Company Overview

NextDecade Corporation is a U.S.-based energy infrastructure company focused on the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities and related carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions. The company operates within the energy, LNG export, and carbon management industries, with a strategic emphasis on supplying LNG to international markets while reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. Its core business is centered on the development, financing, construction, and operation of large-scale LNG export assets.

The company’s primary revenue driver is expected to be long-term LNG offtake contracts associated with its flagship Rio Grande LNG project, supported by integrated CCS infrastructure. NextDecade positions itself as a differentiated LNG developer by pairing large-scale export capacity with carbon capture capabilities designed to meet evolving environmental standards of global LNG buyers. The company was founded in 2010 and has evolved from a development-stage LNG exporter into a more diversified energy infrastructure developer following key regulatory approvals, commercial contracting milestones, and strategic investments over the past decade.

Business Operations

NextDecade’s operations are organized around LNG development and carbon capture solutions, with its principal operating segment being the Rio Grande LNG export terminal and the associated Rio Grande CCS project. The company does not currently operate producing LNG facilities; instead, its business model centers on advancing projects through permitting, securing long-term customer contracts, arranging project financing, and overseeing construction and future operations. Revenue generation is expected primarily from LNG sales under long-term contracts once operations commence.

Operations are predominantly based in the United States, with international commercial activity tied to LNG marketing and customer relationships in global gas markets. NextDecade controls key assets including permitted LNG terminal sites, long-term site leases, and emissions storage acreage for CCS. The company conducts its development activities through subsidiaries, most notably Rio Grande LNG, LLC and NextDecade Energy Marketing, LLC, and works with engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors and upstream natural gas suppliers as part of its project ecosystem.

Strategic Position & Investments

NextDecade’s strategic direction focuses on advancing the Rio Grande LNG project to final investment decision and construction while integrating large-scale carbon capture to reduce emissions intensity. Growth initiatives include securing additional LNG offtake agreements, finalizing project-level financing, and expanding CCS capacity to capture and permanently store carbon dioxide from LNG operations. The company’s strategy is aligned with demand from utilities and energy companies seeking long-term LNG supply with enhanced environmental attributes.

The company has attracted significant strategic investment, including equity investments from major global energy companies and infrastructure-focused investors. These investments are intended to support project development and signal commercial validation of NextDecade’s LNG and CCS model. While the company does not operate a broad portfolio of unrelated businesses, its key subsidiaries represent focused investments in LNG liquefaction, marketing, and carbon management, positioning NextDecade at the intersection of traditional energy infrastructure and emerging low-carbon solutions.

Geographic Footprint

NextDecade’s operational footprint is anchored in North America, with its headquarters located in Houston, Texas, and its primary development assets situated in Brownsville, Texas, along the U.S. Gulf Coast. This location provides strategic access to abundant U.S. natural gas supply, pipeline infrastructure, and deepwater shipping routes for LNG exports.

Internationally, the company’s market presence is commercial rather than operational, with LNG marketing and customer engagement spanning Europe, Asia, and other global LNG-importing regions. Through long-term contracts and commercial relationships, NextDecade is positioned to influence global energy markets despite having physical assets concentrated in the United States.

Leadership & Governance

NextDecade is led by a management team with experience in LNG development, energy finance, and large-scale infrastructure projects. The leadership emphasizes disciplined project execution, long-term contracting, and integration of environmental considerations into core strategy. Governance is overseen by a board of directors that includes industry executives and investment professionals.

Key executives include:

• Matt Schatzman – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
• Tracy Krohn – Founder and Director
• Brent Riddle – Chief Financial Officer
• Michael L. Smith – Chief Commercial Officer
• Courtney O. Mitchell – General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

The leadership team’s strategic vision centers on establishing NextDecade as a leading U.S. LNG exporter differentiated by scale, reliability, and lower-carbon design, with governance practices aligned to public company standards and long-term shareholder value creation.