The U.S. Department of Energy has granted New Fortress Energy Inc. a permit to export up to 1.4 million metric tons per year of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to non-free trade agreement (FTA) countries from its facility in Altamira, Mexico. This marks the first non-FTA export permit since the Biden administration paused such approvals in January, a pause that was recently challenged in court. Environmental advocates have criticized the decision, arguing it undermines commitments to climate goals and public health considerations. New Fortress Energy aims to supply cheaper and cleaner natural gas to underserved markets globally with this approval. The DOE's order highlights ongoing concerns about the impacts of gas exports but concludes that this project serves the public interest. The approval comes at a time when the administration is navigating pressures from both environmentalists and the LNG industry.