A recent report by Greenpeace and Sierra Club has drawn attention to the serious health and economic impacts of the expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry in the United States. According to the report, air pollution from existing LNG export terminals is responsible for approximately 60 premature deaths and nearly $1 billion in annual health costs. If planned and proposed terminals come online, these numbers could nearly triple, with 149 premature deaths and $2.33 billion in health costs each year.
The analysis comes at a critical time, as the Biden administration has temporarily halted approvals for new LNG export projects until regulators reassess the environmental and climate impacts of these proposals. This pause, now under legal scrutiny, provides an opportunity for federal officials to consider not only the climate effects of LNG expansion but also the associated public health risk.
LNG export facilities are major sources of harmful air pollutants, which can have severe consequences for communities living near them. The report’s findings are particularly concerning for marginalized communities, as Black and Latino populations disproportionately bear the brunt of the pollution from these terminals. According to the report, Black Americans could experience pollution levels 151% to 170% higher, and Latino Americans 110% to 129% higher, than white Americans.
Naomi Yoder, a data manager at the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, pointed out that the health costs presented in the report likely underestimate the true impact. LNG facilities often exceed their permitted emissions, and the study did not account for pollution upstream and downstream of the terminals. Furthermore, hazardous pollutants not covered in the study are also likely contributing to health risks.
One of the most harmful LNG facilities highlighted in the report is the Cheniere Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana, which is already linked to 24 premature deaths annually. Planned expansions could add another four deaths each year. Louisiana, home to numerous LNG terminals, is experiencing both environmental and financial strains from the industry’s growth. Local energy bills have surged due to LNG expansion, according to a separate report by environmental justice groups.
The financial toll of LNG terminals goes beyond health costs. If all planned LNG terminals are built, the total health costs associated with their emissions could reach $62.2 billion by 2050, the report projects. Currently operating terminals alone are estimated to cause $28.7 billion in health costs over the same period. These numbers highlight the long-term economic consequences of expanding the LNG industry, which often prioritizes shareholder profits over public health and environmental protection.
James Hiatt, director of For a Better Bayou, expressed frustration with regulatory agencies that he believes are failing to protect communities from these harms. Hiatt, who lives in southwestern Louisiana near three LNG facilities, criticized the close relationship between regulators and large corporations. “They are not using their powers to protect people, and instead are doing the bidding of large corporations that are only concerned about shareholder value and profit making,” he said.
Advocates are calling on federal regulators to take decisive action to prevent further harm. By refusing to approve any pending LNG export applications, regulators could save up to 1,110 lives and avoid $15.1 billion in health costs through 2050, according to the report’s analysis. This would represent a significant step toward safeguarding public health and reducing the disproportionate burden of pollution on vulnerable communities.
The report from Greenpeace and Sierra Club adds to a growing body of evidence demonstrating the detrimental effects of LNG infrastructure on both human health and the environment. In light of this new data, advocates are urging regulators to prioritize the health of communities over corporate profits and take immediate steps to halt the expansion of LNG export facilities.
As the U.S. remains the world’s largest LNG exporter, the outcome of these regulatory decisions will have lasting implications not only for the country’s climate goals but also for the health and well-being of millions of Americans.