Commonwealth LNG, LLC - FE Dkt. No. - 19-134-LNG

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on October 16, 2019, by Commonwealth LNG, LLC ("Commonwealth"), requesting long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) up to the equivalent of 441.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries, and to Non-Free Trade Agreement (NFTA) countries.  Authorization is for: (i) a 25-year period for exports to FTA nations, and (ii) a 20-year period for exports to Non-FTA nations, each commencing on the date of first commercial export or seven years from the issuance of the authorization sought, from a proposed liquefaction and export facility located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.  Commonwealth proposes to export LNG from the Liquefaction Project to any country that has, or in the future will have, the capacity to import LNG via ocean-going carrier, with which the United States has, or in the future enters into, an FTA requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and/or NFTA countries, with which trade is not prohibited by United States law or policy.  Commonwealth requests this authorization on its own behalf and as agent for other parties who hold title to the LNG at the time of export.

DOE will consider one or more of the following studies examining the cumulative impacts of exporting domestically produced LNG:

• Effect of Increased Levels of Liquefied Natural Gas on U.S. Energy Markets, conducted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration upon DOE’s request (2014 EIA LNG Export Study);
• The Macroeconomic Impact of Increasing U.S. LNG Exports, conducted jointly by the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Oxford Economics, on behalf of DOE (2015 LNG Export Study); and
• Macroeconomic Outcomes of Market Determined Levels of U.S. LNG Exports, conducted by NERA Economic Consulting on behalf of DOE (2018 LNG Export Study)

Additionally, DOE will consider the following environmental documents:

• Addendum to Environmental Review Documents Concerning Exports of Natural Gas From the United States, 79 FR 48132 (Aug. 15, 2014); and
• Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas from the United States, 79 FR 32260 (June 4, 2014). 

A Federal  Register notice will be issued.