The Chesapeake Bay Grand Integrated LNG Pipeline & Export Initiative

Maryland: The Premier Hub for America’s LNG Future

Executive Summary

The Chesapeake Bay Grand Integrated LNG Pipeline & Export Initiative is the largest, most strategically positioned, and best-suited LNG infrastructure project on the U.S. East Coast. Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay region is uniquely capable of handling three to five world-class LNG export facilities, leveraging its unmatched proximity to natural gas resources, superior maritime infrastructure, year-round shipping access, and direct access to Europe making it the most competitive LNG export hub in North America.

This unified plan harnesses Maryland’s strategic advantages and integrates a multi-tiered LNG production and transport system by:

♦ Eliminating supply chain bottlenecks and unlocking stranded Marcellus & Utica natural gas.

♦ Developing a multi-facility LNG hub capable of sustaining U.S. energy exports for decades.

♦ Utilizing existing high-tension power line ROWs, pipeline corridors, rail, and highways.

♦ Establishing offshore and island-based LNG terminals to minimize onshore impact.

♦ Leveraging Maryland’s unmatched proximity to Europe and Africa to dominate the LNG export market.

♦ Providing a climate-stable, weather-protected shipping lane, ensuring year-round uninterrupted exports.

This comprehensive initiative solidifies Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay as the nations premier LNG export gateway, capable of powering the U.S. economy and strengthening energy security worldwide.

1. Why Maryland & Chesapeake Bay Are the Ideal LNG Hub

♦ Proximity to the Marcellus & Utica Shale Gas Reserves

♦ The largest source of natural gas in the United States sits just west of Maryland.

♦ Unlike Gulf Coast LNG facilities that must transport gas over 1,000 miles, Chesapeake’s LNG hub would be just a few hundred miles from the source, drastically cutting costs.

♦ Fastest gas-to-export cycle in the U.S., giving Maryland a competitive advantage over Louisiana and Texas LNG ports.

♦ Superior Proximity to Europe & Africa

♦ Chesapeake LNG exports to Europe would be 40-50% faster than Gulf Coast exports.

♦ Shipments to Africa are also significantly reduced in transit time, positioning Maryland as the dominant U.S.-Africa LNG supplier.

♦ Maryland’s shorter shipping routes save costs and ensure U.S. LNG outcompetes Russian and Qatari gas.

♦ Year-Round, Climate-Stable Shipping Operations

Unlike the Gulf Coast, which faces hurricanes, extreme weather, and port disruptions, Chesapeake Bay offers:

♦ Natural Safe Harbor: The Chesapeake Bay’s geography provides a shielded, naturally protected deep water port, ensuring LNG tankers can operate year-round without major storm threats.

♦ No Hurricane Shutdowns: Gulf Coast LNG terminals frequently experience weather-related closures, whereas Maryland’s LNG hub would have uninterrupted export capacity.

♦ Minimal Weather Delays: Ice storms and extreme cold in the Great Lakes and Northeast often shut down maritime operations, but Chesapeake Bay remains navigable year-round.

♦ Deepwater Capabilities for Large-Scale LNG Exports

♦ The Chesapeake Bay has one of the most expansive, naturally deep water ports on the East Coast.

♦ It can handle multiple Q-Max and Q-Flex LNG carriers simultaneously, ensuring maximum export volume and efficiency.

♦ Unlike smaller East Coast ports, Maryland’s large maritime capacity supports multiple LNG export terminals.

♦ Existing Energy Infrastructure & Workforce

♦ Baltimore and surrounding industrial zones already have a skilled energy workforce.

♦ Existing pipeline networks, high-tension ROWs, and transportation corridors make it easier to integrate new LNG infrastructure.

♦ Minimal new land-use requirements thanks to leveraging rail, highways, and energy corridors.

2. Developing a Multi-Facility LNG Hub (3-5 LNG Export Facilities)

Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay is large enough to accommodate three to five LNG processing and export facilities, making it the largest single LNG hub in North America.

♦ Strategic LNG Facility Locations

♦ Sparrows Point LNG Facility (Baltimore Harbor)

♦ Premier deep water industrial port ideal for large-scale LNG exports.

♦ Direct access to major road, rail, and pipeline networks.

♦ Proximity to existing refineries and gas transport infrastructure.

♦ Eastern Shore LNG Hub (Somerset or Dorchester County)

♦ Ample land for new LNG processing and liquefaction facilities.

♦ Strategic position along shipping lanes to Europe and Africa.

♦ Lower population density, reducing local opposition.

♦ Island-Based LNG Export Terminals (Offshore & Lightly Populated Islands)

♦ Reduces environmental impact by relocating infrastructure offshore.

♦ Ensures deep water access for large LNG carriers without disrupting Maryland’s coastline.

♦ Can be constructed on existing islands or manmade platforms.

3. Solving the Natural Gas Transport Bottleneck

To ensure fast, efficient transport of gas to Maryland’s LNG hubs, this initiative leverages existing infrastructure to avoid new pipeline delays.

♦ Using High-Tension Power Line ROWs for Underground Pipelines

♦ High-voltage power line corridors already cut across Maryland and surrounding states.

♦ Co-locating underground gas pipelines in these ROWs avoids land-use conflicts and legal battles.

♦ Ensures a low-impact, fast-deployment pipeline solution.

♦ Expanding Existing Gas & Oil Pipeline Corridors

♦ Upgrading existing gas transport corridors ensures rapid delivery to Chesapeake LNG facilities.

♦ Unlike new pipeline projects that take years of regulatory battles, expanding existing routes fast-tracks approvals.

♦ Rail & Highway LNG Transport as a Secondary Solution

♦ Rail-based LNG tankers serve as an alternative to pipelines.

♦ Existing highway ROWs provide a pathway for small-diameter gas pipelines to reach LNG processing hubs.

4. Offshore & Island-Based LNG Infrastructure

To maximize export capacity while minimizing onshore disruption, this plan incorporates floating and offshore LNG solutions.

♦ Floating LNG Storage & Export Terminals

♦ Offshore deep water storage units enable large-scale LNG export with reduced land impact.

♦ Direct-to-tanker liquefaction eliminates costly onshore facilities.

♦ Island-Based LNG Terminals

♦ Lightly inhabited or manmade islands will host LNG storage, transfer, and processing facilities.

♦ These reduce congestion on the Maryland mainland while maximizing port access.

5. Investment & Policy: Raising Capital, Not Taxes

Instead of raising taxes, this initiative is driven by private-sector investment and fast-track regulatory approvals.

♦ Private Capital & Sovereign Wealth Fund Attraction

♦ Low-tax investment structures to attract global LNG investors.

♦ Sovereign wealth funds (Japan, South Korea, UAE) targeted for funding.

♦ Regulatory Efficiency & Fast-Track Approvals

♦ Using existing ROWs and pre-approved corridors to bypass long environmental reviews.

♦ Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) support by positioning this as a national security project.

6. Conclusion: Chesapeake Bay America’s LNG Powerhouse

Maryland is the undisputed best location for a world-class LNG export hub. With its unparalleled access to natural gas, superior shipping advantages, weather-stable shipping lanes, and world-class infrastructure, Chesapeake Bay is poised to become the most important LNG export region in North America.

This plan ensures maximum energy efficiency, economic growth, and global competitiveness, all while keeping taxes low and ensuring fast deployment. This is America’s future LNG powerhouse.