What is LNG?

Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is natural gas in a liquid form. When natural gas is cooled to minus 259 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 161 degrees Celsius), it becomes a clear, colorless, odorless liquid. LNG is neither corrosive nor toxic. MORE...

LNG in California

According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, the United States, including California, needs to consider developing additional supplies of natural gas to meet its growing demand. Because North American supply basins are maturing, the U.S. will need to rely more on imported supplies, including liquefied natural gas. California already imports 85 percent of its natural gas supply from these basins. Currently, the United States has five LNG-receiving and regasification terminals, including one in Puerto Rico, but no terminal is located on the West Coast. Recently, however, a number of companies have proposed to build LNG import facilities in California, at other locations in the United States, and in Baja California, Mexico.

For more, please download our staff paper titled: LNG in California: History, Risks and Siting - Staff White Paper. Publication # 700-03-005. On line: July 17, 2003 (PDF file, 26 pages, 340 kilobytes).

Also see: Significant Events in LNG History (PDF file, 2 pages, 121 kb)

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This web section provides information to evaluate how LNG might affect California.

For more information about LNG issues in California, please contact:

Supervisor
Special Projects Office
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-23
Sacramento, CA 95814
E-mail:

News media please contact Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director, at 916-654-4989.

Public Participation

The Energy Commission's Public Adviser, provides the public assistance in participating in Commission activities. For information on public participation, please contact the Public Adviser's Office at 916-654-4489, toll free in California at 800-822-6228, or e-mail at pao@energy.state.ca.us