The federal government has given another—and potentially final—green light to the largest proposed LNG facility in the U.S.

On May 9, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued its “Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement” on Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2), a project with a planned capacity of 20 million tonnes per year (mtpa), with a peak capacity of 24 mtpa.

CP2 has been at the center of controversies involving LNG development in the U.S. When rumors began circulating that the previous administration under President Biden would implement a pause on LNG development in January 2024, initial speculation was that the order specifically targeted CP2.

FERC’s action on May 9 was in response to a more recent issue. In June 2024, the commission approved permits for Venture Global to begin construction on the project. The following September, a group of environmentalists and fishermen petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, against the permits.

In November, the court asked the FERC to review the environmental impact statement (EIS). The commission released the final EIS on May 9, saying that no new changes were needed.

CP2, to be built alongside Venture Global’s operational Calcasieu Pass LNG facility in southwest Louisiana, has not reached a final investment decision.

The new Trump administration has been more supportive of LNG development, ending the pause immediately upon entering office and granting permits to several projects. Most recently, the FERC approved commissioning for the Golden Pass LNG project.

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