The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), under the new leadership of Sec. Chris Wright, approved the first LNG permit of President Donald Trump’s second term, the DOE announced Feb. 14.

Kimmeridge-owned Commonwealth LNG, to be located on the Calcasieu River near Cameron, Louisiana, received the permit.

Kimmeridge originally planned to reach a final investment decision on the project in the first quarter of 2024 but was delayed to 2025 when former President Joe Biden ordered the DOE to stop issuing permits, pending the outcome of a study on the environmental effects of LNG facilities.

President Trump pledged during the campaign to reverse the decision.

“Today marks one of many steps that [the] 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,” said Wright, formerly the CEO of Liberty Energy prior to assuming the position of DOE secretary.

The project also received its draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), another key permitting step.

Once it reaches full capacity, Commonwealth LNG will be able to export the equivalent of 1.2 Bcf/d of natural gas.

“With these decisions in hand, subject to a FERC final order, which we expect in July 2025, and DOE’s final authorization, Commonwealth anticipates reaching a final investment decision in September 2025, with first LNG production expected in Q1 2029,” said Commonwealth CEO Farhad Ahrabi.

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