The Police Jury has approved support of an application by Lake Charles Exports to the U.S. Department of Energy to export Liquified Natural Gas from the existing Lake Charles Terminal in Calcasieu Parish. Nine of eleven properties were slated for demolition. The purchase of two properties using FEMA monies will go forward. A Federal affairs and advocacy group’s contract was approved, as was the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Police Jury and the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.

Lake Charles LNG

Jeff Brightwell, operations vice president of Lake Charles LNG, said the Jury’s approval is a necessary step in making an application with the DOE to pursue trade with non-Free Trade Agreement countries, which include European countries.

Brightwell said the facility is not operational yet. According to the Lake Charles Energy LNG news site the existing brownfield regasification facility site will capitalize on four existing LNG storage tanks, two deep water berths and other LNG infrastructure.

The company received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at the end of 2019, and the first deliveries are projected to occur in 2026.

Lake Charles Energy has signed six sale purchase agreements  in the last five months bringing the total amount of LNG contracted from the Lake Charles LNG export facility to nearly 8 mtpa.

Lake Charles LNG will also benefit from its direct connection to Energy Transfer’s existing Trunkline pipeline system that in turn provides connections to multiple intrastate and interstate pipelines. These pipelines allow access to multiple natural gas producing basins, including the Haynesville, the Permian and the Marcellus Shale. Energy Transfer is one of the largest and most diversified midstream energy companies in North America, with a strategic footprint in all of the major U.S. production basins.

Lake Charles Exports is an affiliate of Lake Charles LNG. Both are Energy Transfer Companies.

Energy Transfer, along with various subsidiaries, including Lake Charles Exports, Lake Charles LNG Export, Trunkline Gas Company and Lake Charles LNG is the developer of the Lake Charles Liquefaction Project. Lake Charles LNG is located at 8100 Big Lake Road and was formerly known as Trunkline LNG and has been in operation since 1982, according to Alberto Galan, CPPJ administration.

Cleanup continues

Nine properties were approved for condemnation and two scheduled for buyouts at the Thursday Calcasieu Parish Police Jury meeting.  The August and October 2020 hurricanes damaged properties throughout the region beyond repair or left open to vagrants. Owners must pick up the tab for demolition. If the Parish has to do it, a lien will be placed against the property.

Buyouts will be fully funded with FEMA monies. 702 Sundale Dr. will be bought out with FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance funding at $121,500. 2436 Brookfield St. will be bought out for $151,000 with Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding.

Police Jurors deferred one of the condemnations for 30 days to give the owner a chance to make visible repair progress, and another property slated for condemnation was scheduled to be purchased the day following the Police Jury meeting.

Federal and economic development advocates approved

The CPPJ adopted a resolution approving a professional services (lobbyist) agreement between the Police Jury and the Picard Group for federal governmental affairs and advocacy services.

The Picard Group advises the Police Jury on federal issues and provides detailed bill and policy tracking and analysis. Galan said they have worked on behalf of the CPPJ in the areas of hurricane disaster recovery dollars and initiatives, coastal policy and project advocacy, federal agency communications, strategic communications to Congress and the Executive branch office.

The first and previous contract was $150,000. The new, approved contract is $157,500 per year for 2024-2025.

The Police Jury approved the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Police Jury and the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance for $230,000 per year for the next three years.

The Alliance, funded by a combination of private and public funds from the five-parish region, markets the region nationally and internationally to attract and host business and industry investors. The Alliance also concentrates on workforce and education, infrastructure advocacy and quality of life, Galan explained.