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All U.S. liquefied natural gas terminals, including those operated by major producers Venture Global and Cheniere Energy, have violated air pollution permits at least once in the past five years, according to a new report from the environmental watchdog, raising questions about the public health and environmental risks of the AI-powered industrial boom.
The independent nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) found that all seven U.S. LNG terminals that were fully operational as of the end of 2024 were in violation of the Clean Air Act, which regulates air emissions. Five of the seven facilities also dumped illegal levels of bacteria, zinc, copper, oil, grease and other pollutants into waterways, exceeding water pollution permits.
The report comes as U.S. LNG production capacity is increasing rapidly under the Trump administration. The Trump administration has promised to roll back key elements of the Clean Air Act, which regulates air pollution, but the changes have not yet taken effect.
All seven terminals in Louisiana, Texas, Georgia and Maryland emitted more than 18 million tons of greenhouse gases and more than 15,000 tons of health-threatening air pollutants in 2023, according to the EIP.
Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi terminals in Louisiana and Texas, respectively, and Venture Global’s Louisiana Calcasieu Pass facility were the top emitters in 2023, releasing 6.9 million, 3.3 and 3.1 million tons of greenhouse gases, respectively. Both companies are expanding the faculties of these facilities.
“Given the LNG industry’s poor compliance record, state and federal agencies should slow down and scrutinize new permit applications more carefully,” said Jen Duggan, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project.
“Fast approval of LNG terminals puts the health of our communities, ecosystems, and climate at risk.”
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced in July that the agency would revoke its “certification of hazard,” the legal basis for the government’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions due to public health concerns under the Clean Air Act.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has already approved three LNG terminals, with five more scheduled to be built by the end of the year.
U.S. companies have proposed building 33 more LNG facilities over the next 10 years, including those identified in the report.
Venture Global plans to build two new LNG terminals in Louisiana, while Cheniere is proposing a major expansion of the existing facility.
Sempra, majority owner of Cameron Parrish LNG, one of seven already operational in 2024, is currently developing another export facility in Texas.
Venture Global and Sempra did not respond to requests for comment. Cheniere declined to comment.
The EIP estimated that if only 22 of the 33 proposed terminals were built, about 80 million tons of greenhouse gases and about 100,000 tons of air pollutants could be emitted annually.
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The Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators have issued 15 enforcement actions against LNG terminal operators, resulting in fines totaling about $1 million, but EIP warns that this is only a small amount compared to the maximum allowed by law.
Freeport LNG received the most enforcement orders and largest fines in the past five years, totaling $669,604. The facility suffered an explosion in 2022, but the EIP report said it had already received 16 violations and four enforcement orders from state regulators in the two years prior to the explosion, citing violations such as failing to prevent unauthorized discharge of nitrogen oxides and failing to properly operate flares. Freeport LNG declined to comment.
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