In re Dominion Cove Point LNG, LP

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) denied a request by Sierra Club for reconsideration of its authorization for export to non-free trade agreement nations of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Dominion Cove Point LNG terminal in Maryland. DOE said it had thoroughly considered the greenhouse gas impacts of its actions and rejected Sierra Club’s other arguments regarding shortcomings in the environmental review. Among other things, DOE said induced natural gas production attributable to the project was not required to be assessed because it was not reasonably foreseeable. DOE also rejected the argument that the impacts of potential increased use of coal in power generation should be examined, finding that the relationship between DOE’s determination and increased coal consumption was even more attenuated than for increased natural gas production. DOE also found that the methodology used for the Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Report was reasonable and that DOE had properly considered economic benefits and impacts.