(The Center Square) – Federal regulators have issued all necessary permits for the Alaska LNG project, the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council said, with state-level authorizations in Anchorage now the final step before construction can begin.
“I am thrilled to see the Alaska LNG project finish federal permitting actions ahead of schedule,” said Emily Domenech, executive director of the Permitting Council, an independent agency established by Congress in 2015 that coordinates and streamlines federal environmental reviews and authorization processes for large, complex infrastructure projects.
Alaska LNG, which project developers aim to build in two phases over six years, would consist of an 807-mile-long pipeline from the North Slope to the Kenai Peninsula in the south-central part of the state, an LNG export facility that would be built nearby, and a natural gas treatment plant at Prudhoe Bay, with a total capital investment estimated at more than $40 billion.
The Alaska LNG project started its federal review in 2017 under FAST-41, a federal process created to speed up permitting for large infrastructure projects. The project received initial approval in 2020. In 2021, the Sierra Club requested an updated Environmental Impact Statement. The project sponsor, 8 Star Alaska, LLC, which is mainly owned by Glenfarne in New York, had to get new biological reviews and renew permits that had expired.
“After delays during the previous Administration, Alaska LNG returned to FAST-41 coverage to help navigate the complexities of the federal permitting process,” said Domenech. “I’m particularly grateful to the agencies that continued work during the government shutdown, making it possible to complete this final milestone on time. This combined effort reflects our commitment to the State of Alaska and to achieving President Trump’s energy dominance agenda.”
Glenfarne reactivated the project’s FAST-41 coverage in February 2025 to obtain updated biological opinions and permit renewals, according to the Permitting Council. NOAA renewed the final permit after completing the federal approvals on the project on Dec. 10, according to the Council.
“The Federal Permitting Council has delivered not just on time, but ahead of schedule, as we check off completion of the 21st and very last federal permitting action for Alaska LNG,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. “This project is crucial for our future – it can help secure Alaska’s economy for the next generation, while delivering affordable gas both in-state and to our allies across the Pacific. I thank Ms. Domenech, her team, and all who helped get to this point.”
Glenfarne anticipates making a final investment decision on the pipeline by the end of 2025. Pipeline construction could begin in late 2026, with first operations expected in mid-2029, according to the company.
A final investment decision for the second phase, which involves building an LNG terminal with a capacity of 20 million tons per year, is expected in late 2026.
Independent analysts estimate that under current economic conditions, the project’s total cost will range from $50 billion to over $60 billion.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is the lead permitting agency for the project.
