The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has recommended two LNG export terminals in south Texas — NextDecade's 17.6mn t/yr (2.35bn ft³/d) Rio Grande LNG and Glenfarne's 4mn t/yr Texas LNG — receive final environmental approvals, according to filings.
FERC previously approved both projects, which are both in Brownsville near the Texas-Mexico border, but the authorizations were tossed by a federal appeals court in August 2024 due to limited public comments and an insufficiently detailed review of Rio Grande LNG's carbon capture plan. The court amended its ruling earlier this year, finding that the issues could not justify throwing the projects into "disarray".
In separate decisions, FERC found both projects would not have significant impacts on the environment but recommended several smaller mitigation measures.
The filings on 31 July came after FERC issued draft decisions on 31 March and accepted comments until 19 May.
NextDecade has already begun construction on the first phase of Rio Grande LNG, which consists of three liquefaction trains. Each of those trains is expected to begin producing LNG in 2027, 2028 and 2029, respectively. The LNG developer also is progressing toward a final investment decision (FID) to add a fourth and fifth train.
US developer Glenfarne plans to reach an FID on Texas LNG by the end of 2025.
