The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Feb. 21 cleared Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC’s proposed liquefied natural gas export project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana and TransCameron Pipeline LLC’s associated natural gas pipeline. Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur voted for the project commending the commission’s new approach to calculate the direct greenhouse emissions of the project. Commissioner Richard Glick dissented saying that the commission refuses to consider the implications of the direct emissions analysis and ignores the potential contribution to climate change.

Chairman Neil Chatterjee said he anticipates that the new approach would provide the framework to assess pending LNG certifications. In recent FERC approvals that drew attention to the commission’s divided approach to assess greenhouse gas emissions, LaFleur has voted against certain projects reiterating the need to account for the climate impacts of natural gas infrastructure.

The proposed export terminal, which would be constructed on an 828-acre site, is designed to have a capacity of 10 million metric tons per annum, with a peak achievable capacity of 12 million metric tons under optimal operating conditions. The facility would receive natural gas via TransCameron’s proposed East Lateral pipeline. The 23.4 mile-pipeline would be able to provide up to 2,125,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas transportation service.

Calcasieu Pass and TransCameron are subsidiaries of Venture Global LNG, Inc.