Courtney Naquin, courtney.naquin@sierraclub.org
Southwest Louisiana - After Venture Global LLC failed to provide additional and necessary data regarding its proposed CP LNG export terminal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency announced today that it is suspending the environmental review process for project and its associated pipeline, until the company is able to answer FERC’s “outstanding” questions. While this only pauses, rather than cancels, CP2, FERC’s suspension of their environmental review is an important victory for Southwest Louisiana (SWLA) environmental and community advocates that have been fighting the fracked gas export buildout in the region.
FERC’s decision to suspend CP2’s environmental review follows the announcement of their “environmental equity plan,” released earlier this year, which promises to incorporate environmental justice concerns and impacted communities into their decision making. In Southwest Louisiana alone, there are currently three existing fracked gas export terminals, five that FERC has approved, and four that have pending applications. Many community members believe that SWLA has become a “sacrifice zone” to extractive and polluting industries, from petrochemical companies to the more recent fracked gas export buildout.
James Hiatt, Southwest Louisiana Coordinator with Louisiana Bucket Brigade, issued the following statement:
“The life-and-death impacts of placing another dangerous gas export terminal on the disappearing Louisiana coast requires a highly accurate and complete environmental review. The cursory and incomplete environmental answers demonstrate how Venture Global is prioritizing speed over safety, accuracy, and completeness. Attempting to put another dangerous gas export terminal directly in the backyards of Cameron residents is foolish and poses a real danger to every person in this community. We cannot afford any more gas export terminals on this fragile coast.”
Roddy Hughes, Senior Campaign Representative with Sierra Club’s Beyond Dirty Fuels Campaign, issued the following statement:
“This delay is great news and a point of optimism for Southwest Louisiana residents and those who have been working diligently to stop the fracked gas export buildout. FERC made the right choice in suspending CP2’s environmental review, and we’ll continue working with FERC alongside SWLA community leaders to ensure that their home is not made into a sacrifice zone to the fracked gas industry. But FERC must reevaluate the many other projects proposed in the area and consider the cumulative impacts of these proposed facilities plus the petrochemical industry that also dominates Southwest Louisiana - we cannot stop here with CP2.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.