America’s gas pipeline buildout is mainly for exports—not energy independence

New report: More than three-quarters of new pipeline capacity under development in the US would feed LNG exports.

Greenhouse gas emissions tied to that new capacity would be far larger than the current climate pollution from all coal-fired power plants nationwide.

The 10 largest planned pipelines across the country are intended to export gas overseas as LNG .

A recent peer-reviewed study comparing the greenhouse gas emissions of LNG and coal found methane emissions from coal mines were relatively modest compared to coal’s CO2 emissions.

Economic forces could also limit the number of pipeline projects that get built in the coming years , or the extent to which completed pipelines operate at full capacity.