Democrat and Republican lawmakers alike are expressing their support for NextDecade Corp.’s Rio Grande LNG export terminal at the Port of Brownsville. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a Democrat, filed an open letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in support of the project, citing the environmental benefits of the project:
“Next Decade’s Rio Grande LNG project will enable developed and emerging markets around the world to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing carbon-intensive fuels with natural and other forms of cleaner energy. The project will also provide energy producers across the State of Texas an important link to global markets and an opportunity to reduce wasteful flaring of valuable energy resources into the atmosphere.”
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) similarly filed a letter to FERC to express his support for the Rio Grande LNG project – one of several LNG export facilities proposed along the Texas coast:
“FERC’s final approval of this project will unleash the additional natural gas export potential of the U.S. and the State of Texas, driving significant economic, energy, trade and environmental benefits for generations to come.”
While these projects have gained mainstream, bipartisan support, there are still some on the Environmentalist Left that have used false statements and scare tactics in opposition to these projects. Despite their opposition, the first LNG tanker arrived at an export facility earlier this month.