US Approves LNG Exports from Oregon
The U.S. Energy Department on Monday approved the export of up to 1 billion cubic feet per day of liquefied natural gas from a proposed terminal in Oregon, a move it said would ease U.S. sales of the fuel to Asian markets.The approval advances efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to increase U.S. fossil fuel shipments around the globe at a time big projects are increasingly under strain from environmental protests and lawsuits.“Today’s export authorization for Jordan Cove, the first U.S West Coast LNG project, will ease access to further position the U.S.
Veresen, Itochu in Jordan Cove LNG deal
Veresen, the developer of the Jordan Cove LNG facility in Oregon, has announced a preliminary agreement on key commercial terms with Itochu, including the purchase of 1.5 million mt/year of LNG (190 MMcf/d or 70.1 Bcf of gas) for an initial term of 20 years. Veresen recently signed another commercial agreement with JERA Co. in March. "This is the second major customer agreement for the Jordan Cove LNG project and it represents further proof of the market support for this project. ITOCHU is a leading global energy company and we are pleased to have them as an additional foundation customer for the Jordan Cove LNG project,” said Don Althoff, President and CEO of Veresen.
Jordan Cove Approved for LNG Export
The U.S. Energy Department announced that it has conditionally authorized Jordan Cove Energy Project, L.P. (Jordan Cove) to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, from the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal in Coos Bay, Oregon. The Jordan Cove application was next in the order of precedence after the Energy Department conditionally authorized the proposed Cameron LNG facility. Subject to environmental review and final regulatory approval, the facility is conditionally authorized to export at a rate of up to the equivalent of 0.8 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas, for a period of 20 years. The development of U.S.
Coos Bay – Jordan Cove LNG Project Update
The US Coast Guard completed its Waterway Suitability Report for the proposed Jordan Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility to be located in Coos Bay, Oregon. The Report finds that additional measures will be necessary to responsibly manage the navigation, safety, and security risks associated with this project. The Report has been forwarded to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for its consideration as part of the facility licensing process. Note: An earlier edition of this newsletter erroneously located this project on the Columbia River. Several of my long-suffering readers gently brought the geographic error to my attention. A thousand pardons. (HK Law)
Weaver’s Cove LNG facility – Site Visit and Technical Conference
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice stating that staff of its Office of Energy Projects will conduct a visit to the site of Weaver’s Cove Energy, LLC’s proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal and storage facility in Fall River, Massachusetts on May 4. On May 5, the staff will conduct a cryogenic design and technical conference in Fall River. Both events are open to the public. 69 Fed. Reg. 22791 (HK Law).
Weavers Cove LNG facility – letter of recommendation
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice stating that, in response to a Letter of Intent to operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Weavers Cove, Fall River, Massachusetts to accept shipments of LNG by water, the Coast Guard is preparing a letter of recommendation as to the suitability of the Narragansett Bay waterways for LNG marine traffic. Comments pertaining to maritime operation and waterways management aspects of the proposed LNG facility should be submitted by November 1. 69 Fed. Reg. 53455 (HK Law).
Rhode Island Passes Bill on LNG Ship Ops
The House of Representatives today voted 66-0 to approve legislation introduced by Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. to require any LNG tanker to have an LNG-certified American master mariner present on each trip through Rhode Island waters and during transfer of cargo. Representative Gallison, chairman of the Special House Commission to Study the Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas and a Democrat who represents District 69 in Bristol and Portsmouth, proposed the legislation (2005 - H5362Aaa) as a safety measure should either of the two proposed local LNG terminal projects go forward. “If either of these LNG projects are approved, we…
Rhode Island Passes Bill on LNG Ship Ops
The House of Representatives voted 66-0 to approve legislation introduced by Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr. to require any LNG tanker to have an LNG-certified American master mariner present on each trip through Rhode Island waters and during transfer of cargo. Representative Gallison, chairman of the Special House Commission to Study the Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas and a Democrat who represents District 69 in Bristol and Portsmouth, proposed the legislation (2005 - H5362Aaa) as a safety measure should either of the two proposed local LNG terminal projects go forward. "If either of these LNG projects are approved, we need this…
FERC Order re: Weaver’s Cove LNG Facility
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an Order approving the request to construct and operate the Weaver’s Cove liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Fall River, Massachusetts. The order includes various environmental, safety, and security conditions, including compliance with U.S. Coast Guard requirements relating to maritime security, vessel operations, and emergency response planning. (HK Law)
Coast Guard Finds Weaver Cove LNG Terminal Waterway Unsuitable
The Coast Guard announced its determination that the waterway approach to the proposed Weaver's Cove Liquefied Natural Gas terminal in Fall River, Mass., is unsuitable for LNG tanker traffic due to navigational safety challenges. In his letter of recommendation, the Captain of the Port and Commander of Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England, Capt. Roy Nash, said that a segment of the transit route extending from Sandy Point to the Weaver's Cove site, presents significant navigational safety challenges to the proposed LNG vessels' size and transit frequency. Chief among the Coast Guard's concerns is the limited maneuvering room between the old and new Brightman Street bridges. The bridges are nearly parallel to each other and are only about 1100 feet apart.
Navy Objection May Sink LNG Project
The U.S. Navy could help scuttle plans of a developer that would have LNG tankers trolling through the Navy's torpedo test range in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay, according to a report in the Boston Herald. Last month, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center asked federal regulators to reconsider the decision to approve a new liquefied natural gas storage facility in Fall River – which would get its LNG via giant ships passing through the bay. The developer, Weaver's Cover LLP, has criticized the center's intervention in the controversial case, saying it was made too late. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission earlier this year temporarily put a freeze on all proceedings until it can decide whether it should rehear the Weaver's Cove LNG proposal.
