On December 17, 2024, the Office of Fossil Energy & Carbon Management (FECM) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gave notice of availability of the 2024 LNG Export Study: Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports. This multi-volume study updates DOE’s understanding of the potential effects of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports on the domestic economy; U.S. households and consumers; communities that live near locations where natural gas is produced or exported; domestic and internation energy security, including effects of U.S. trading partners; and the environment and climate (Study or 2024 LNG Export Study). DOE intends to use the Study to inform its public interest review of, and ultimately decisions in, certain applications to export LNG to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas, and with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA applications), future proceedings, and for other purposes. 

The 2024 LNG Export Study is composed of a summary report and four appendices containing three coordinated modeled analyses and a qualitative literature review. 

·       Appendix A: Global Energy and Greenhouse Gas Implications of U.S. LNG Exports. An analysis of the global market demand for U.S. LNG exports across a range of scenarios and the global emissions impacts of increased U.S. LNG exports through 2050. 

·       Appendix B: Domestic Energy, Economic, and Greenhouse Gas Assessment of U.S. LNG Exports. An analysis of the implications of the various U.S. LNG export levels on the U.S. economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

·       Appendix C: Consequential Greenhouse Gas Analysis of U.S. LNG Exports. An analysis of global GHG emissions in response to increased U.S. LNG exports. 

·       Appendix D: Addendum on Environmental and Community Effects of U.S. LNG Exports. A literature review of the effects of upstream, midstream and downstream natural gas production and exports on the environment and on local communities. 

DOE invites the submission of comments regarding the 2024 LNG Export Study. Comments may include, among other things, data, reports, studies, or personal testimony. The Study and comments received will be included in the dockets of the long-term LNG export proceedings identified in the Federal Register Notice announcing the release of the Study.  DOE does not intend to revise the Study upon receipt of the comments. Rather, comments received will inform DOE’s public interest determination in each of the proceedings identified in the Federal Register Notice announcing the release of the Study and future non-FTA export proceedings. 

The comment period will begin upon publication in the Federal Register and extend for a 60-day period.  The comments submitted appear below.