FERC denies Sierra Club’s rehearing request for Corpus Chirsti

The U.S. FERC issued an order denying Sierra Club’s request for rehearing of Comission’s order issued December 30, authorizing Cheniere to site, build, and operate LNG export and import facilities in San Patricio and Nueces Counties, Texas.

Cheniere was granted authority also to construct and operate a 23-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter pipeline and two compressor stations in San Patricio County, Texas, stands in FERC’s order.

The December 30 order authorized Cheniere to site, construct, and operate the 15 Mtpa LNG facility on the north end of the La Quinta Channel.

The liquefaction project consists of three trains, each with a capacity of approximately 5 mtpa.

The December 30 order determined that the Corpus Christi LNG project, if constructed and operated as described in the final EIS, was an environmentally acceptable action, that the liquefaction project was not inconsistent with the public interest, and that the pipeline project was required by the public convenience and necessity.

Sierra Club contends that the December 30 order violated NEPA by not analyzing the environmental impacts of induced natural gas production; refusing to consider the project’s effects on domestic electric sector air emissions, including emissions resulting from electric generators shifting from gas to coal as a result of export-driven gas price increases; improperly rejecting the “Systems Alternative” of using the Gulf LNG project as an alternative to the liquefaction project, failing to examine the alternative of incorporating waste heat recovery into the design at the Sinton Compressor Station, and improperly dismissing the alternative of using electric motors to provide some or all compression for refrigeration units; and failing to take a hard look at the impacts of the project’s emissions of greenhouse gases.

FERC discussed all the issues highlighted by Sierra Club and denied its request for rehearing, it added.

LNG World News Staff; Image: Cheniere