FERC on Thursday authorized Eagle LNG Partners Jacksonville LLC to build and operate a project designed to export up to 1 million metric tons/year (mmty) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from a proposed facility in Jacksonville, FL.

Eagle LNG has proposed building and operating an LNG terminal and export facility on the north bank of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville [CP17-41]. The project would include three trains, each with a nominal capacity of 0.33 mmty, and one storage tank with a net capacity of 45,000 cubic meters.

Eagle LNG had originally anticipated final authorization from FERC in mid-July, with construction of the $500 million project to begin shortly after and estimated start for in-service in early summer 2021.

In July 2016 the Department of Energy granted authorization for Eagle LNG to export up to the equivalent of 49.8 Bcf/d to countries that have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States. Eagle LNG also has filed an application that’s pending to export to non-FTA countries. FERC staff completed a final environmental impact statement for the project in April.

The project would include marine facilities with a concrete access trestle/loading platform, two liquid loading arms capable of docking/mooring LNG vessels with cargo capacity of up to 45,000 cubic meters, and truck loading facilities with a dual bay capable of loading 260-520 LNG trucks per year.

Natural gas would be delivered to the facility through a 120-foot, non-jurisdictional pipeline that would be constructed, owned and operated by Peoples Gas, a subsidiary of Teco Energy Inc.