Environmental Groups Respond to Department of Energy’s Approval of Alaska LNG Project

Immediately, the U.S. Division of Power (DOE) introduced it might grant approval for the exports from the proposed Alaska LNG undertaking, a $38.7 billion fossil-fuel infrastructure plan to export liquified pure gasoline (LNG). It might be able to exporting 20 million metric tons of gasoline per yr — a amount that might end in over 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide air pollution emissions yearly.

Earthjustice is at the moment representing environmental teams in difficult one other key approval for the Alaska LNG undertaking by the Federal Power Regulatory Fee (FERC).

With DOE and FERC approvals, the Alaska LNG export terminal now has many of the approvals wanted for it to maneuver ahead. The last word destiny of the undertaking, nevertheless, is much from sure. The DOE order additionally grants the Middle for Organic Variety and Prepare dinner Inletkeeper depart to intervene, clearing the way in which for each organizations, together with Sierra Membership, to probably file further authorized challenges to DOE’s approval. Earthjustice has represented the Middle for Organic Variety and Prepare dinner Inletkeeper so far in Alaska LNG proceedings earlier than DOE.

The next statements have been issued in response to DOE’s approval:

Erin Colón, an Earthjustice senior lawyer based mostly in Juneau, Alaska, who led the FERC litigation: “Not solely is the Alaska LNG undertaking pointless given the widespread transition to clean-energy alternate options we anticipate to see within the years to return, it’s additionally a significant risk to ecosystems and local weather in Alaska. The state’s greenhouse gasoline emissions from fossil fuels would balloon by almost 30% over as we speak’s ranges, in an period the place all different states might be scrambling to scale back greenhouse gasoline emissions. That is additionally occurring in a spot that’s uniquely impacted by local weather change — with sea-ice soften, thawing permafrost, and coastal erosion. It’s irritating to see the Division of Power rubber-stamp a large fossil-fuel infrastructure undertaking of this sort when it clearly conflicts with the pressing have to sort out the local weather disaster.”

Andrea Feniger, Sierra Membership Alaska Chapter Director: “The proposed Alaska LNG export undertaking would threaten Arctic wildlife and exacerbate the local weather disaster by locking in many years of elevated gasoline extraction and exports at a time when the science is obvious that we should quickly transition away from fossil fuels. Claiming {that a} undertaking like this might presumably be within the public curiosity isn’t simply out of step with the Biden administration’s said dedication to local weather motion — it’s out of step with actuality. We’ll pursue each out there avenue to make sure that this ill-advised undertaking is rarely constructed.”

Liz Jones, an lawyer on the Middle for Organic Variety’s Local weather Legislation Institute: “Proper after the horrific Willow choice, it’s painful to see Biden officers greenlight a good larger fossil gas undertaking that can destroy Arctic habitat and feed the local weather disaster. This undertaking will ship billions of cubic ft of gasoline a day throughout Alaska and thru waters teeming with wildlife, all to be burned up on overseas shores into our overheating environment. The Alaska LNG undertaking ought to by no means have been authorized.”

Moneen Nasmith, a Senior Lawyer in Earthjustice’s Nationwide Local weather staff: “Over its 30-year minimal lifespan, DOE’s personal numbers verify that the undertaking will contribute over 2 billion tons of greenhouse gasoline emissions, which is able to undercut most of the features the Biden administration has proposed to curb emissions, and will emit as a lot as ten occasions extra carbon into the air than the large Willow Challenge. The situation DOE added on venting might stop even better quantities of emissions from producing the large quantities of gasoline wanted to provide the undertaking, however represents a small fraction of the general emissions the undertaking will trigger. This administration can’t proceed to approve these fossil gas initiatives and say that it’s taking the local weather disaster critically.”

Background

Proposed by the Alaska Gasline Improvement Company (AGDC), an Alaska state-owned company, the undertaking entails establishing an 807-mile pipeline that will bisect the state from north to south, spanning a distance roughly the width of Texas. Building would have an effect on 35,474 acres of land, 45% of which might be completely affected. “Stranded” gasoline deposits found many years in the past in Alaska’s Arctic, which might stay within the floor with out inflicting any local weather hurt if it weren’t for this undertaking, would first be extracted and despatched to gasoline therapy services operated by AGDC within the Arctic. The gasoline would then be transported 807 miles south to the Kenai Peninsula by way of the brand new pipeline, which might require 489 new roads to assemble and preserve. AGDC would additionally construct a liquefaction plant and marine terminal on the jap shore of the Prepare dinner Inlet in Nikiski. The LNG can be transported to Asian markets by way of Prepare dinner Inlet, a delicate water physique that gives essential habitat for endangered beluga whales.

AGDC estimates that the Alaska LNG undertaking will export 20 million tons of LNG per yr, with some additionally tapped for in-state use. Nevertheless, curiosity in gasoline might be waning by 2030, the earliest AGDC might anticipate to start exporting LNG. The 4 nations that DOE assumes would obtain gasoline from the Challenge — Japan, South Korea, China, India — all have introduced plans to increase their renewable vitality utilization. By the yr 2030, the IPCC warned in its Sixth Evaluation Report, nations should full the duty of slashing greenhouse gasoline emissions 50% beneath pre-industrial ranges. By the point this undertaking can be constructed, there might now not be any demand for it, leaving extra stranded fossil gas infrastructure throughout the state.