Plaquemines LNG, a facility located approximately 25 miles south of New Orleans, has received fast-tracked permitting from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under President Trump’s declared national energy emergency. The accelerated approval process reduced the standard public comment period from 30 days to 10 days and is expected to facilitate swift approval of an $18 billion expansion project.
The expansion would more than double the terminal’s size from approximately 590 acres to about 1,220 acres along the Mississippi River, making it the largest liquefied natural gas export facility in North America, according to owner Venture Global. Army Corps estimates indicate the project could impact up to 470 acres of wetlands and river bottoms in central Plaquemines Parish. Environmental organizations have expressed concern that the abbreviated review process will result in insufficient scrutiny of dredging, construction activities, and marsh filling in a region already experiencing significant land loss.
Plaquemines Parish has lost over 250 square miles of land during the past 60 years due to subsidence, sea level rise, and erosion, with projections suggesting another 300 square miles could disappear within the next 50 years. Louisiana overall has lost nearly 2,000 square miles of coastal land since the early 1900s. Environmental advocates argue that the facility’s expansion contradicts climate and coastal preservation goals, as Plaquemines LNG currently releases approximately 8.1 million tons of greenhouse gases annually—equivalent to emissions from 1.7 million vehicles. The expanded facility is projected to produce at least 9 million tons annually.
The terminal exported 833 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas last year, with the majority directed to Europe. Some state leaders support the expansion for its anticipated economic benefits and job creation, while critics contend that exporting natural gas conflicts with the stated objective of enhancing domestic energy independence and reliability.
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