By ARABELLA SERRATA
Staff Writer
According to their official website, NextDecade has been in the midst of construction for a new
Brownsville location to meet the “global demand for sustainable energy” for liquified natural gas [LNG].
According to Susan Richardson, Senior Director of Communications at NextDecade, phase one of the
project is “progressing safely and on schedule.” She stated that the location has more than 2,500 workers on
site, 70% from the area. “Supporting and investing in local communities is at the core of our mission,”
added Richardson.
The location is set to include an addition of “three or possibly more” liquefaction trains due to the
“rapidly growing global demand for natural gas.” Richardson added that there are still plans to utilize
carbon capture at the Brownsville location. “We are developing a potential carbon capture and storage
project at the Rio Grande LNG Facility that is expected to make meaningful impacts toward a lower
carbon future,” stated Richardson.
Construction is said to be following environmental precautions and preservations for local wildlife
habitats and wetlands. “More than five times the required size for the Rio Grande LNG terminal (761 acres)
is being conserved around the project site, including the Miradores Wetlands Mitigation Site, Ocelot and
Jaguarundi Habitat Conservation Site and Las Lomas Ecological Preserve (totaling nearly 4,100 acres),”
stated Richardson. She added that the facilities and operations at the location were adhering to the “highest
safety and environmental standards.”
The first LNG is set to be produced in 2027. According to nationalgrid.com, LNG is natural gas cooled
down to a liquid state. It produces 40% less carbon dioxide than coal and 30% less than oil. The website
also states that LNG emits much less soot, dust, and other particulates compared to coal and oil and is
regarded as the “cleanest of the fossil fuels.”
According to NextDecade, Rio Grande LNG is the first and only LNG project in the United States. It
offers carbon dioxide reductions of “more than 90%” using carbon capture and storage. Their website states
it is the equivalent of “removing more than one million vehicles from the road annually.”
“RGLNG is dedicated to implementing industry-leading safety measures to protect our workers, the
community, and the environment. We are proud to be part of the Rio Grande Valley community and remain
committed to delivering a safe, sustainable, and economically beneficial project,” stated Richardson.
For more information on the Rio Grande LNG project, visit the NextDecade website at next-decade.com.
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