U.S. Senator Ted Cruz praised the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) after it issued a final order approving the Rio Grande LNG export facility and its associated pipeline, allowing the energy project to move forward.
"I am proud to have led the fight to secure federal authorization for the Rio Grande LNG project," Cruz said in a statement. "This new LNG export facility supports thousands of jobs in the Rio Grande Valley, brings billions of dollars in investment to the region, and strengthens Texas's energy leadership," he explained.
The NextDecade-led project, which is based in Brownsville, is expected to create significant economic growth in South Texas through job creation, infrastructure development, and global energy exports.
"Texas is the energy capital of the world, and I am proud to fight to ensure it stays that way," Cruz noted.
In a statement, NextDecade Chairman and CEO Matt Schatzman thanked the Texas senator for his advocacy.
"The Senator's leadership has been instrumental in helping secure a final order for the project from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission," Schatzman said. "Lending his support along with that of other federal, state, and local elected officials gave voice to the importance of Rio Grande LNG to our nation, Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, and our allies around the world."
The approval follows a series of efforts by Cruz, including a letter to FERC sent in July. The letter urged a swift reauthorization of the project and his leadership on the Project LNG Act, which aims to safeguard LNG export permits from judicial revocation and expedite legal proceedings.
With FERC's final order now in place, construction and operations of the Rio Grande LNG facility are poised to begin, further cementing Texas's position in global energy markets.
