© Reuters. Snow covered transfer lines are seen at the Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Lusby, Maryland March 18, 2014. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File Photo
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Biden administration is delaying a decision on 17 liquefied (LNG) export terminals, including one called CP2 that would be the nation’s largest but which is opposed by environmentalists, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2) facility in Louisiana is twice the size of its present CP plant, with an export capacity of 20 million metric tonnes per year.
The White House is directing the Department of Energy to expand a review of LNG export projects to include more climate criteria, the New York Times said, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
CP2 needs approval of its exports from the Department of Energy. It also needs an approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is a panel of three energy regulators.
A delay of a decision on CP2 until after the Nov. 5 U.S. election could spare the White House from criticism by environmentalists who oppose the project.
A White House spokesperson did not have an immediate comment on the report.
