Southwest Louisiana Community Tells FERC & LDNR That Methane Gas Exports Threatens Health and Safety

Cameron Parish, Louisiana -  Southwest Louisiana residents voiced their opposition to the Commonwealth LNG export terminal, the CP2 LNG export terminal, and the CP2 Express Pipeline - which are methane gas infrastructure proposed for construction in the area - because of these facilities’ imminent risks to their safety, public health, environment, and even the local economy. Southwest Louisiana residents have been mobilizing to pressure public officials to stop the approval and fast-tracking of methane gas exports, igniting a rapidly growing movement to prevent new oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf Coast.

On Wednesday, March 1, community members and allies attended a public hearing with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) to provide comments on Commonwealth LNG’s application for a Coastal Use Permit (CUP). The following day, Thursday March 2, residents provided comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), regarding Venture Global’s draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for their proposed CP2 LNG project.

These facilities pose severe environmental threats. Collectively, CP2 and Commonwealth would emit as much pollution as 48 coal plants yearly, or over 37 million cars. Additionally, if constructed, Commonwealth LNG, CP2 LNG, and the CP2 Express Pipeline will collectively destroy over 1,800 acres of wetlands, which are natural and necessary barriers to hurricanes and storm surges along the Louisiana coast. Existing LNG export terminals have already destroyed over 1,065 acres of wetlands. This is a major concern for a hurricane zone such as Southwest Louisiana, which is still recovering from Hurricane Delta and Laura, two hurricanes that passed years ago.

Risks of explosions and chemical leaks are also a major concern for local residents. Research shows that full LNG shipping tankers hold energy equivalent to 55 atomic bombs similar to that dropped on Hiroshima. There are already three existing LNG terminals in Southwest Louisiana, with 7 more proposed. This is in addition to the dozens of petrochemical industrial complexes and associated infrastructure in the area, which exponentially increases safety risks for local residents.

Additionally, LNG exports will negatively impact the local economy. Fishers and shrimpers in Southwest Louisiana are speaking out against these new facilities because of how dredging and pollution would poison waterways and harm marine life. Commonwealth, CP2, and other proposed projects, have also received enormous, multi-billion dollar tax breaks, which robs money from public schools and teachers, public infrastructure, local parks, and public healthcare workers – all of which are dependent on taxpayer dollars.

John Allaire, Resident of Southwest Louisiana provided the following statement:

“Venture Global and Commonwealth are only interested in making money, no matter the cost to the people. At the March 1 hearing, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources gave Commonwealth 30 minutes at the beginning of the hearing to present information to the public - but no one from the company even showed up. That’s how much they care about the community they will be impacting. These LNG companies are exporting gas to the highest bidders overseas, resulting in higher costs of energy, food, and other products we rely on here in the U.S. Venture Global and Commonwealth are getting rich, while we have to live with high risks of cancer and massive explosions. They know that and that’s why they don’t have the courage to look us in the eye and address our concerns.”

Cindy Robertson, Resident of Southwest Louisiana, provided the following statement:

“I went to the CP2 hearing in Cameron wanting answers about the risks of building yet another methane gas export terminal in our fragile region of Southwest Louisiana. I wanted to know about their emergency plans if there is an explosion like the one at Freeport LNG. I wanted to know why Venture Global’s first CP project flares daily and why their emergency alarms go off so much. But Venture Global all but said that it is not their problem. The company and government agencies hide information about our health and safety. Our communities live with the risk of harm, and the air pollution and endless globs of dredge waste that washes up on our beaches so that Venture Global and the Biden Administration can ship gas to Europe and Asia. We won’t take it anymore.”

Naomi Yoder, Staff Scientist for Healthy Gulf attended the hearings and said,

“The agencies have to take these public hearings and the comments that residents make seriously. A few fishermen walked out of the CP2 hearing because they felt like they weren’t being heard. Their lives and livelihoods are on the line and LDNR and FERC have to integrate their concerns and comments into their decision-making process. These methane gas export terminals are bad for the people, bad for the wetlands, bad for marine life, and should not be built.”