### DOE Pause on US LNG Export Permits Remains Despite New Authorization
Despite the recent authorization for New Fortress Energy to begin exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries, the Biden administration’s pause on LNG export permits remains in effect, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This decision underscores the ongoing policy review aimed at ensuring the best available information guides future export authorization decisions, particularly in light of evolving environmental and economic impacts associated with LNG exports.
#### Background on the Authorization
On September 3, 2024, the DOE announced it had granted New Fortress Energy the necessary permit to export up to 1.4 million tonnes of LNG annually from its Altamira floating LNG export platform, located offshore Altamira, Mexico. The permit allows the company to re-export approximately 0.4 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of U.S.-sourced natural gas to non-FTA countries over a five-year term, rather than the originally requested period ending in 2050.
#### Implications of the Pause
The DOE’s continued pause on LNG export authorizations since January 2024 aims to bolster its analysis tools to more comprehensively consider both environmental and economic factors influencing these exports. This pause does not affect existing or under-construction projects that already hold DOE export authorizations. However, it has the potential to delay future U.S. LNG export development, particularly for projects that rely on timely regulatory approvals.
#### Legal Challenges
The DOE’s pause on LNG export permits has been the subject of legal challenges. In January 2024, the Biden administration announced the pause, but it faced opposition from industry groups and attorneys general in 16 Republican states. A federal court judge in Louisiana blocked the permitting freeze in early August 2024, but the ruling’s practical implications remain uncertain. The DOE has since