Meeting global demand: how the US is preparing its LNG infrastructure
As global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) continues to grow, the United States is positioning itself as a critical supplier on the world stage. The ability to bring new export facilities online quickly, however, depends on a regulatory framework that is clear, consistent, and well-coordinated across agencies.
LNG permitting remains a complex process, involving multiple layers of interagency coordination, environmental review, and potential judicial oversight. Despite these challenges, reforms are underway.
In this energy talk, FERC Commissioner Lindsay See and Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the White House National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC), discussed the ongoing efforts to streamline the US LNG permitting process. The conversation explored how federal regulators and the administration are working together to respond to global energy demand more efficiently.
“I think FERC has been able to really see some significant improvements there over just this past year, in 2025 whenever there's construction and LNG facility, FERC issues, what's called the notice to proceed.
We've issued 250 of those so far 2025 compared to 100 and all in 2024 and we've done 60% of them in 30 days or less”, Commissioner See explained. “It’s a balance. We want to move quickly and get opportunities but also pass the test of time. So we want to make sure we also move fairly.”
Agen added: “the Department of the Interior targets reducing a two-year process to two weeks. That's the only way we're going to catch up with China on the critical government infrastructure standpoint, and so we're being as aggressive as humanly possible to get these projects permitted.”
We in the United States need to be able to produce our energy, have our own infrastructure to export that energy, so that we can be dominant and not reliant on adversaries.
Dominance and reliability
Moving away from the dependence on Russia is key. “We in the United States need to be able to produce our energy, have our own infrastructure to export that energy, so that we can be dominant and not reliant on adversaries,” Agen said.
Agen also emphasised the importance of long-term agreements with Europe to ensure reliability for European allies: “LNG is driving long terms agreements. We are at the forefront of building these 20 years relationships that will provide reliability.”
On the topic of a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, he explained the importance of focusing on controllable factors: “We can ensure the critical infrastructure is in place to export gas. Many countries are moving off Russian gas, and solidifying these long-term deals now will benefit both sides of the Atlantic.”
Regulatory partnerships and investment
The conversation also emphasised the need for regulatory certainty and coordination between federal and state agencies to speed up projects, particularly in Alaska.
Commissioner See highlighted the importance of long-term partnerships in driving decades-long investment decisions. “You need both federal and state collaboration,” she said. “We are continuously looking for ways to streamline processes. On the natural gas side, for example, there is a programme that allows a blanket certificate for certain improvements and construction projects, so they don’t have to go through case-by-case approvals under our governing statutes.”
Agen spoke about the role of off-take agreements in attracting investment: “The agreements will be a big part of funding. We travelled to Alaska, and it’s incredible that the existing pipeline, built in the 1970s in just 18 months, is still in operation. Yet we haven’t completed a second string.”
Agen also noted Alaska’s oil production fluctuations, peaking at 2 million barrels a day in 1980 and dropping to the lowest levels since 1976, raising the question of how to attract real investment back to the state - potentially even creating a sovereign wealth fund.
Commissioner See concluded: “It doesn’t just take a signature on the line. Interest and progress depend on federal and state permits, many of which are set to expire. All necessary approvals must be in place for the project to proceed — we need to push down the red tape.”
