December 23rd, 2019: On December 23rd, Sierra Club filed requests for rehearing of FERC’s authorization of three liquified natural gas (LNG) projects in Brownsville, Texas. These projects would provide an outlet for Permian Basin gas, require significant additional energy for liquefaction, transport, and regasification, and impact local communities and wildlife.
Three of the most affected local cities also signed on to these rehearing requests, adding credibility to Sierra Club’s argument that these projects will harm the local communities and their tourism-based economies. Sierra Club continues to harness the power of community organizing, as is clear by the full list of signatories: Sierra Club, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Save RGV from LGV, Defenders of Wildlife, the City of South Padre Island, the City of Port Isabel, the City of Laguna Vista, as well as two affected landowners.
Thanks especially to the work of Sierra Club Environmental Law Program senior attorney Nathan Matthews, legal assistant Lou Finazzo, Club organizer Rebekah Hinojosa, and all of the organizations and communities listed above, we continue to fight to protect Texas communities from the threats of fracked gas pollution.