Court shrugs off Freeport LNG opposition

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the appeals made in opposition to the Department of Energy’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export authorization granted to the Freeport LNG terminal on Quintana Island, Texas. 

Commenting on the decision, American Petroleum Institute (API) executive vice president and chief strategy office, Marty Durbin, said that “the court’s action today to deny the petition for review of Freeport LNG’s export authorization is great news for other planned LNG export projects around the country.”

He called for “common-sense regulations” in the future, that would continue to drive innovations in technology that will increase opportunities for American LNG.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported earlier this month that the U.S. exported more natural gas than it imported in three of the first five months of this year, February, April and May, which is historic since the U.S. has been a net importer (on an average annual basis) for nearly 60 years.

In addition, EIA projects that the U.S. will be a net natural gas exporter for the year in 2017, API notes.

Durbin added that API will “continue working with the administration and leaders in Congress who are ready to accelerate America’s growth as an energy superpower by streamlining the permitting process and opening the doors to free trade.”