Environmental and Gulf Coast Groups File Request for Rehearing Challenging FERC’s Approval of CP2 LNG

Washington, DC - Today, groups submitted a request for rehearing to challenge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of Venture Global’s proposed methane gas export facility, CP2 LNG. FERC made the highly controversial decision at its June meeting with a slim 2-1 vote and a strong dissent from former commissioner Allison Clements. Niskanen Center submitted the request on behalf of Sierra Club and a coalition of environmental organizations and impacted community members.

The in-depth, detailed request states that FERC neglected to factor in cumulative impacts of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, environmental justice issues, and the impacts on endangered species, like the Rice's whale, as well as vulnerable wetlands when issuing its approval as is required by the Natural Gas Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. 

There is strong, and very recent, precedent that FERC must fully and adequately assess the cumulative and direct environmental and health impacts that would be caused by air pollution. The US Court of Appeals for the DC District recently sent the approval of Commonwealth LNG– a facility one mile from the proposed site of CP2– back to FERC for reconsideration on those grounds. 

The sprawling CP2 LNG project, proposed by Venture Global, is estimated to have lifecycle annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to about 20 times the annual emissions of the Willow Project, more than 42 million gas-powered cars, or 46 coal-fired power plants. The facility would be located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, an area that has more low-income residents than 88% of the country. 

CP2 would be adjacent to the existing Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LNG facility and two miles from the proposed Commonwealth LNG facility. Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass facility has already exposed the surrounding community to dangerous air pollution well in excess of permit limits in over 130 incidents since it began operations in 2022. Fishermen have reported a dramatic impact on their livelihoods since the commencement of Calcasieu Pass operations, highlighting the severe negative impact of gas exports on the local economy and environment.

In reaction, environmental and Gulf Coast groups released the following statements: 

Cathy Collentine, Sierra Club Director of the Beyond Dirty Fuels campaign, said: “CP2 alone is a climate and environmental justice disaster. When factored in with all of the other fossil fuel pollution that has already caused massive destruction to the Gulf Coast, it is unthinkable that FERC voted to allow this additional project to move forward. With this request, we are giving the Commission another chance to get it right. Venture Global should absolutely not be allowed to operate another gas export facility that will contribute to climate change, destroy critical ecosystems and fishing grounds, and harm the health of local communities.”

Travis Dardar, indigenous fisherman of Cameron, Louisiana and Founder of FISH - Fishermen Involved in Sustaining our Heritage, said: “Fossil fuel companies and their government allies moved LNG projects into the region and turned our fishing community upside down. Calcasieu Pass LNG has decimated our fishing industry and we won’t recover if CP2 LNG is built next to it. FERC made a bad decision last month when they approved CP2’s permits, but it’s not too late. The Commissioners should grant this rehearing and fully consider the impacts it has on our community’s health, environment, and our fishing culture.”