With most of the U.S. projects scheduled to come on line in 2017-18, he says, "there is the potential for running into delays" and escalating costs. "However, in comparison, competitor liquefaction projects to be built in other regions, [such as] Australia, Canada, Russia and East Africa, will be facing more difficult challenges in sourcing a skilled workforce, equipment and supplies in those remote areas."

Stephen Toups, a senior vice president at Turner Industries Group involved in Louisiana job-training efforts, sees the need to train thousands of skilled workers as an opportunity, not a roadblock. "Sure, some projects will be delayed," he says. However, with the potential for creating so many high-paying jobs, he notes, non-union employers, unions, community colleges and others will be working hard to keep pace with training.

"When there are real projects with real jobs, people [with skills] will come," Toups says, pointing out how the shale-oil boom in western North Dakota has attracted trained workers from all over.