It looks like the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal off the German Baltic Sea island of Rügen can now be built. On 7 July, both houses of the German parliament gave the green light to include the site in the country’s LNG acceleration concept, but few in the region are satisfied.

Local energy experts had advised against the project, saying it was not in the economic interest of the island with its pristine shores that are a popular destination for holidaymakers. Environmental NGOs, led by Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH, Berlin; www.duh.de), had also opposed the plans, calling them “catastrophe for marine ecology”.

Originally, the terminal was to be located a stone’s throw from the restored art nouveau pier at Sellin. However, the controversial plans were rewritten to move the project to the other side of the island at Mukran, where it is still visible from the tourist beaches.

Then and now, the state government of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania (MV) wants none of it.

Related: Berlin still stands behind Rügen terminal

After previously turning thumbs down on Berlin’s plans (the terminal would be financed by and operated with federal funds), Schwerin is still not ruling out a challenge to the parliamentary decision. However, state prime minister Manuela Schwesig has hinted that a guarantee that the infrastructure would be suitable to import hydrogen might make it palatable.

Current plans call for the facility to consist of two floating terminals with a total annual capacity of 10 bn m³ of LNG and a pipeline to supply the mainland. If not slowed by legal challenges, it could go onstream in early 2024.

Addressing complaints that the Rügen base is not needed, and that Germany potentially could have more than enough gas, economics and technology minister Robert Habek has cautioned that, from today’s viewpoint, inventories appear sufficient for the coming winter, “we are not out of the woods yet”.