The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Office of Public Participation (OPP) hosted two ‘Community Connection Events’ in Southwest Louisiana, one in Sulphur and the other in Lake Charles. The events focused on FERC’s review of liquid natural gas (LNG) export terminals and ways the public can participate in the review process. However, FERC made clear that the events ‘are not public comment sessions or meetings, and FERC staff will not receive or record comments for specific proceedings at these events.’

Video From the Event

Lori Cooke, a Lake Charles resident and the Southwest Louisiana Program Coordinator with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, attended the event in Sulphur and released the following statement in response:

“I attended this event hoping that FERC would meaningfully engage with our community, that they would listen to our concerns. They flew all the way down to Southwest Louisiana from D.C., so why wouldn’t they use the opportunity to hear from the people most impacted by their decisions on gas export terminals?

Instead, the event I attended was a sham, a way for FERC to check the public participation box on their path to rubber stamp yet another gas export terminal. FERC wouldn’t let us submit public comments, so I’ll send a message to them here: we are not boxes to be checked. We are people who love our home and do not want to see LNGs decimate our fishing industry and turn Southwest Louisiana into an industrial wasteland.

Venture Global has requested that FERC expedite their approval process for their latest gas export terminal, CP2. This is the same company that had over 2,000 permit violations in its first year of operation and made $18 billion that same year. In fact, I just saw that Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass facility is flaring today. If FERC truly wants to ‘connect’ with the community, they’ll prioritize our health,livelihood, and homes over this company’s profits and reject their permits.”

Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass gas export facility flaring, photo credit: John Allaire

For photo documentation of the facility’s near constant flaring, click here.

There are currently three operating liquid natural gas export terminals in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes in Louisiana: Sabine Pass, Calcasieu Pass and Cameron LNG. Plaquemines LNG is currently under construction in Plaquemines Parish. There are proposals to build or expand 13 more gas export terminals in Louisiana, and 25 nationwide. In January, President Biden announced a pause on all new liquified natural gas exports.

Local residents are pushing back against these terminals and calling for investments in renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, in an attempt to save their communities from the dangerous gasses these terminals release and the worsening effects of climate change they will cause.

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About Louisiana Bucket Brigade

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade collaborates with communities on the fenceline of polluting industry in Louisiana. We engage in grassroots action to hasten the transition from fossil fuels. Visit labucketbrigade.org for more information.