Port Arthur LNG Phase II, LLC - FE Dkt. No. - 20-23-LNG

The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application) filed on February 28, 2020, by Port Arthur LNG Phase II, LLC (PALNG Phase II), requesting long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) up to the equivalent of 698 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries, and to Non-Free Trade Agreement (NFTA) countries.  The authorization is requested through December 31, 2050, from the Port Arthur LNG terminal located in Jefferson County, Texas.  PALNG Phase II proposes to export LNG from two newly proposed liquefaction trains, referred to as Trains 3 and 4, 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.  PALNG Phase II requests this authorization on its own behalf and as agent for other parties who hold title to the LNG at the time of export.  A Federal Register notice will be issued for the application.

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)
• Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas from the United States, 79 FR 32260 (June 4, 2014)
• 2019 Update to Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas from the United States, 84 FR 49278 (Sep. 19, 2019)