Venture Global LNG application to export more natural gas

Content

ACTION:

Notice of application.

SUMMARY:

The Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (formerly the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management) of the Department
of Energy (DOE) gives notice (Notice) of receipt of an application (Application) filed by Venture Global Plaquemines LNG,
LLC (Plaquemines LNG) on March 5, 2026. Plaquemines LNG asks DOE to amend its existing authorization to export domestically
produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Plaquemines LNG Terminal (Export Terminal or Project), located on the west bank
of the Mississippi River, near river mile

     marker 55, in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, to non-free trade agreement countries set forth in DOE/FE Order No. 4446, as
     amended. Specifically, Plaquemines LNG asks DOE to authorize additional exports in a volume equivalent to approximately 467.67
     billion cubic feet per year (Bcf/yr) of natural gas. Plaquemines LNG filed the Application under the Natural Gas Act (NGA).

DATES:

Protests, motions to intervene, or notices of intervention, as applicable, and written comments are to be filed electronically
as detailed in the Public Comment Procedures section no later than 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, May 26, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Electronic Filing by email (Strongly encouraged): fergas@hq.doe.gov.

Postal Mail, Hand Delivery, or Private Delivery Services (e.g., FedEx, UPS, etc.) U.S. Department of Energy (EX-31), Office of Global Energy Security, Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy
Office, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-056, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.

Due to potential delays in DOE's receipt and processing of mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service, we encourage respondents
to submit filings electronically to ensure timely receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Wade or Peri Ulrey, U.S. Department of Energy (EX-31), Office of Global Energy Security, Office of Strategic Resources,
Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, Forrestal Building, Room 3E-042, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585,
(202) 586-4749 or (202) 586-7893, jennifer.wade@hq.doe.gov or peri.ulrey@hq.doe.gov.

Ajoke Agboola, U.S. Department of Energy (GC-76), Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Energy Delivery and Resilience,
Forrestal Building, Room 6D-033, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, (240) 805-2147, ajoke.agboola@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On October 16, 2019, in Order No. 4446 (Order), (1) DOE's Office of Fossil Energy (now known as the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office) (2) authorized Plaquemines LNG to export domestically produced LNG in a volume equivalent to 1,240 Bcf/yr of natural gas by vessel
from the then-proposed Project to any country with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement (FTA) requiring
national treatment for trade in natural gas, which currently has or in the future develops the capacity to import LNG, and
with which trade is not prohibited by U.S. law or policy (non-FTA countries), for a 20-year term, pursuant to NGA section
3(a). (3) On October 21, 2020, in Order No. 4446-A, DOE extended the term of the authorization through December 31, 2050. (4) On March 13, 2026, in Order No. 4446-B, DOE amended Plaquemines LNG's authorization to increase its non-FTA export volume
from 1,240 Bcf/yr to 1405.33 Bcf/yr. (5)

In the Application, (6) as relevant here, (7) Plaquemines LNG asks DOE to increase its authorized non-FTA volume by the equivalent of 467.67 Bcf/yr of natural gas, from
1,405.33 Bcf/yr to 1,873 Bcf/yr of natural gas. (8) Plaquemines LNG states that its requested increase “reflects a refined analysis of the peak liquefaction capacity of the authorized
Project facilities under optimal conditions.” (9) Plaquemines LNG adds that it has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to increase its authorized liquefaction
capacity from 27.2 metric tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG to 35.0 MTPA of LNG, which equals the volume increase for which it
now seeks DOE's authorization. (10)

Plaquemines LNG states that this proposed increase in its non-FTA export volume “does not require the construction of any
new facilities or the material modification of any existing facilities.” (11)

Additional details can be found in Plaquemines LNG's Application, posted on the DOE website at https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/VG%20Plaquemines%20Uprate%20DOE%20Application%20%283.4.26%29.pdf.

DOE Evaluation

In reviewing the Application, DOE will consider any issues required by law or policy under NGA section 3(a), DOE's regulations,
and any other documents deemed appropriate.

Parties that may oppose the Application should address these issues and documents in their comments and/or protests, as well
as other issues deemed relevant to the Application.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., requires DOE to give appropriate consideration to the environmental effects of its proposed decisions. No final decision will
be issued in this proceeding until DOE has met its NEPA responsibilities.

Public Comment Procedures

In response to this Notice, any person may file a protest, comments, or a motion to intervene or notice of intervention, as
applicable, addressing the Application. Interested parties will be provided 60 days from the date of publication of this Notice
in the
Federal Register
in which to submit comments, protests, motions to intervene, or notices of intervention.

Any person wishing to become a party to this proceeding evaluating the Application must file a motion to intervene or notice
of intervention. (12) The filing of comments or a protest with respect to the Application will not serve to make the commenter or protestant a party
to this proceeding, although protests and comments received from persons who are not parties will be considered in determining
the appropriate action to be taken on the Application. All protests, comments, motions to intervene, or notices of intervention
must meet the requirements specified by DOE's regulations in 10 CFR part 590, including the service requirements.

Filings may be submitted using one of the following methods:

(1) Submitting the filing electronically at fergas@hq.doe.gov;

(2) Mailing the filing to the Office of Global Energy Security at the address listed in the
ADDRESSES
section; or

(3) Hand delivering the filing to the Office of Global Energy Security at the address listed in the
ADDRESSES
section.

For administrative efficiency, DOE prefers filings to be filed electronically. All filings must include a reference to “Docket
No. 16-28-LNG” or “Plaquemines LNG Second Uprate Application” in the title line. Filings must be submitted in English to be
considered. (13)

For electronic submissions: Please include all related documents and attachments (e.g., exhibits) in the original email correspondence. Please do not include any active hyperlinks or password protection in any
of the documents or attachments related to the filing. All electronic filings submitted to DOE must follow these guidelines
to ensure that all documents are filed in a timely manner.

The Application, and any filed protests, motions to intervene, notices of intervention, and comments will be available electronically
on the DOE website at www.energy.gov/hgeo/regulation.

A decisional record on the Application will be developed through responses to this Notice by parties, including the parties'
written comments and replies thereto. Additional procedures will be used as necessary to achieve a complete understanding
of the facts and issues. If an additional procedure is scheduled, notice will be provided to all parties. If no party requests
additional procedures, a final Order may be issued based on the official record, including the Application and responses filed
by parties pursuant to this Notice, in accordance with 10 CFR 590.316.

Signed in Washington, DC, on March 24, 2026. Amy Sweeney, Director, Office of Global Energy Security, Office of Strategic Resources. [FR Doc. 2026-05991 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

Footnotes

(1) Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4446, Docket No. 16-28-LNG, Opinion and Order Granting Long-Term Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural
Gas to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (Oct. 16, 2019).

(2) The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) changed its name to the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) on July 4,
2021. Subsequently, on November 20, 2025, FECM changed its name to the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO). DOE
uses the acronym in effect at the time of each order or action discussed herein.

(3) 15 U.S.C. 717b(a).

(4) Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC, DOE/FE Order No. 4446-A, Docket No. 16-28-LNG, Order Extending Export Term for Authorization to Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations
Through December 31, 2050, at 9-10 (Ordering Para. C) (Oct. 21, 2025).

(5) Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC, DOE/HGEO Order No. 4446-B, Docket No. 16-28-LNG, Order Amending Long Term Authorization to Export Liquefied Natural Gas to
Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations (Mar. 13, 2026).

(6) Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC, Application for Limited Amendment of Authorizations to Export Liquefied Natural Gas
to Free Trade and Non-Free Trade Agreement Nations, Docket No. 16-28-LNG (Mar. 5, 2026) [hereinafter App.].

(7) This Notice applies only to the portion of the Application requesting an amendment to Plaquemines LNG's non-FTA authorization
under NGA section 3(a). DOE will review the portion of the Application requesting an amendment to Plaquemines LNG's existing
authorization to export LNG to FTA countries separately pursuant to NGA section 3(c), 15 U.S.C. 717b(c).

(8) App. at 3 & n.9. See also App. at 13.

(9) App. at 2.

(10) See id. at 2 & n.5; see also id. at 3. FERC, having previously approved the Terminal's 24.0 MTPA capacity, approved Plaquemines LNG's requested capacity increase
from 24.0 MTPA to 27.2 MTPA in February 2025. See id. at 2 & n.5.

(11) Id. at 12.

(12) 10 CFR 590.303.

(13) Executive Order 14224 of March 1, 2025, Designating English as the Official Language of the United States, 90 FR 11363 (Mar. 6, 2025).

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