The Department of Energy (DOE) has granted conditional CP2 LNG terminal approval for the construction of the CP2 gas export terminal, a controversial project spearheaded by the fossil fuel company Venture Global. The proposed facility would be located in the already overburdened Cameron Parish, Louisiana, a coastal community on the Gulf of Mexico that has seen its environmental health and traditional industries decimated by the rise of gas export facilities.
The approval marks a significant step forward for Venture Global, which already operates the nearby Calcasieu Pass gas export facility. Despite ongoing public concerns over the company’s track record of health and safety violations, as well as numerous accusations of unethical business practices and legal disputes with contractors and other fossil fuel companies, the DOE has moved to fast-track the CP2 project. This decision comes in the wake of an Executive Order from January 20, which pushed federal agencies to expedite approvals for fossil fuel projects, bypassing standard review processes.
Local leaders and environmental experts are raising alarms over the potential risks associated with the new gas export terminal. CP2 LNG terminal approval has intensified these concerns. Cameron Parish, already grappling with the environmental fallout of the gas export boom, is particularly vulnerable. The region sits in a fragile coastal wetland area, often in the path of Atlantic hurricanes. Experts warn that the CP2 facility could exacerbate the ongoing environmental and safety risks to surrounding communities, which already bear the brunt of industrial expansion
“The approval of any new gas export terminal raises serious concerns, especially given the track record of explosions like the Freeport LNG disaster in Texas,” said Ethan Nuss, Senior Energy Finance Campaigner at Rainforest Action Network. “Not only does the proposed site pose a potential environmental catastrophe, but it also presents massive liability risks for insurers.”
The CP2 facility would sit in an area prone to hurricanes, adding another layer of risk for both the local community and potential insurers. The explosion of the Freeport LNG facility in Texas just a few years ago left a community devastated and sparked extensive litigation between insurers and contractors. The proposed CP2 terminal, which would be packed into an already struggling coastal community, threatens to make matters worse.
In 2022, the DOE under the previous administration released a comprehensive study examining the broader impacts of gas exports. The findings were damning, with the department concluding that gas exports were costly to both the climate and domestic consumers. The report emphasized that approving new facilities could be contrary to the public interest—a principle outlined under federal law for all natural gas projects. Despite this, the DOE appears to be prioritizing the interests of fossil fuel companies over the welfare of the public and the environment.
With the DOE’s decision to greenlight the project, local grassroots organizations are stepping up their efforts to fight back against the expansion of the gas export industry. On Tuesday, April 29, leaders from the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Rainforest Action Network, and the oil and gas industry will host a virtual briefing to discuss the CP2 terminal’s potential risks and to alert the public and insurers about the dangers it poses. Anne Rolfes, Director of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, will be joined by Ethan Nuss and John Allaire, a 40-year veteran of the oil and gas industry and a neighbor to Venture Global’s existing Calcasieu Pass facility, to share their findings and discuss their ongoing work to protect the Gulf Coast.
“Venture Global’s record of violations, the lack of proper federal oversight, and the dangerous location of this terminal make CP2 a clear threat to the people of Louisiana,” said Rolfes. “We’re here to ensure that the community knows about the risks they face, and that the insurers understand the liability they’re assuming by backing such a risky project.”
The virtual briefing will take place at 11:00 AM ET/10:00 AM Central on Tuesday, April 29. Journalists and members of the public can RSVP by emailing Press@GasExportsToday.com to receive a Zoom link for the event.
About Gas Exports Today:
Gas Exports Today is an organization that brings together analysts, researchers, advocates, and policymakers to discuss the latest research and developments on gas exports. Convened by the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Gas Exports Today aims to shed light on the impacts of gas exportation and raise awareness of the industry’s risks.
