The Department of Energy issued a conditional approval for exports from a major liquefied natural gas export facility planned along the Louisiana coast — the first such green light since President Donald Trump took office last month.
In a 67-page order Friday, the department said exports from the Commonwealth LNG project to countries that lack a free trade agreement with the U.S. “are likely to yield economic benefits to the United States, diversify global LNG supplies, and improve energy security for U.S. allies and trading partners.”
DOE said its authorization of Commonwealth LNG is not likely to negatively affect the availability of natural gas to U.S. consumers or “result in natural gas price increases” and heightened price volatility, though federal analysts have projected a rise in gas prices. The conditional export permit comes as Trump has pledged to expand energy production, outlining in an executive order Friday his policy to “make America energy dominant.”
“Today marks one of many steps that DOE will be taking to assure our future as a reliable energy supplier to the world and resume regular order to our regulatory responsibilities over natural gas exports,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement.
