The U.S. Department of Energy has granted a conditional permit for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Louisiana, reviving a controversial sector that had been stalled under the Biden administration.
Keerti Gopal reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The Energy Department approved Commonwealth LNG’s export permit, the first under Trump’s executive order restarting LNG terminal reviews.
- Environmental and consumer advocates argue increased LNG exports will drive up domestic gas prices and worsen climate and health risks.
- Louisiana’s Gulf Coast, where the project is located, already faces heavy pollution from existing LNG infrastructure.
Key quote:
“It’s short-term gains for a few on the backs of all of us.”
— James Hiatt, For a Better Bayou
Why this matters:
LNG export terminals lock in fossil fuel use for decades, with consequences for both the environment and consumers. Expanding exports raises domestic energy costs and intensifies climate-related risks like hurricanes and coastal erosion, which disproportionately affect communities near these facilities. Residents living near LNG sites face pollution linked to respiratory issues, cardiovascular disease, and increased cancer risks. Louisiana’s Gulf Coast, already an environmental sacrifice zone, continues to bear the burden of the industry’s expansion.
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