The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has
authorized Cheniere to site, construct, and operate LNG export and import
facilities on the northern shore of Corpus Christi Bay in San Patricio and
Nueces Counties, Texas. THE APPROVED
PROJECT IS SUBJECT TO 104 CONDITIONS.
The
application was filed on August 31, 2012, together with an application to
construct and operate a 23-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter pipeline to
transport natural gas bi-directionally between the liquefaction project and
existing interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline systems.
FERC
concluded in its filing that Corpus Christi liquefaction’s project results in
minimal environmental impacts and can be constructed and operated safely.
Cheniere
recently engaged 18 financial institutions to act as Joint Lead Arrangers
to assist in the structuring and arranging of up to $11.5 billion of debt
facilities.
The
Corpus Christi Liquefaction project would have a capacity of approximately 15
mtpa of LNG through three liquefaction trains. It would include
three 160,000 m3 LNG tanks capable of storing 10.1 Bcf, and will have a
maximum continuous regasification rate of 2.6 Bcf/d.
_____________________________________________
149 FERC ¶ 61,283
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
Before Commissioners: Cheryl A. LaFleur,
Chairman;
Philip D. Moeller, Tony Clark, and Norman C. Bay.
Corpus Christi Liquefaction, LLC
Cheniere Corpus Christi
Pipeline, L.P.
Docket Nos. CP12-507-000
CP12-508-000
ORDER GRANTING AUTHORIZATION UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE NATURAL GAS ACT AND ISSUING CERTIFICATES
(Issued December 30, 2014)
1.
On August
31, 2012, in Docket No. CP12-507-000, Corpus
Christi Liquefaction, LLC (Corpus
Christi Liquefaction) filed an application for authority under section 3 of the Natural
Gas Act (NGA)[1]
and Part 153 of the Commission’s regulations[2]
to site, construct, and operate liquefied natural gas (LNG) export and import facilities (Liquefaction Project) on the northern shore
of Corpus Christi Bay in San Patricio and Nueces Counties, Texas.
2. On August 31, 2012, in Docket No. CP12-508-000, Cheniere
Corpus Christi Pipeline, L.P. (Cheniere
Pipeline) filed an application under NGA section
7(c)[3]
and Parts 157 and 284 of the Commission’s regulations[4]
for a certificate of public
convenience and necessity to construct and operate a 23-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter pipeline in San Patricio County, Texas (Pipeline Project)[5]
to transport natural
gas bi-directionally between the Liquefaction Project and existing interstate and intrastate natural
gas pipeline systems.
3. For the reasons discussed in detail below, we
will authorize Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s proposal under
section 3 of the NGA to construct and operate the Liquefaction Project. We conclude
that, with the conditions required
herein, Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s project results in minimal
environmental impacts and can be constructed and operated
safely. Accordingly, we find that, subject to the conditions imposed in this order,
Corpus Christi Liquefaction’s proposal is not inconsistent with the public interest.
We will also authorize
Cheniere Pipeline’s proposal
under section 7(c) of the NGA to construct and operate the Pipeline Project. Based on the benefits the Pipeline Project will provide and the minimal adverse
impacts on existing
customers, other pipelines and their customers, and landowners and surrounding communities, we find, consistent with the Certificate Policy Statement and section 7(c) of the NGA, that Cheniere Pipeline’s proposal,
as conditioned below,
is required by the public convenience and necessity. The final Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) concludes that if the project is constructed and operated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, the project will result in some adverse environmental impacts. However, the impacts described in the final EIS will be reduced to less-than-significant levels
with the implementation of Corpus Christi
Liquefaction’s and Cheniere
Pipeline’s proposed mitigation and Commission staff’s recommendations, which this order adopts as conditions.[6]
[1]
15 U.S.C. § 717b (2012).
[2]
18 C.F.R. pt. 153 (2014).
[3] 15 U.S.C. § 717f (2012).
[4] 18 C.F.R. pts. 157, Subpart F and
284, Subpart G (2014).
[5] We refer to the Liquefaction
Project and Pipeline Project together as “the project” in this order.
[6] The authorizations
issued to Corpus Christi Liquefaction and Cheniere Pipeline herein are subject
to the 104 conditions set forth in the attached Appendix A.