Venture Global received the go ahead from the Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a second facility, CP2 LNG, on the Cameron Coast.

Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance/Chamber SWLA is pleased with the decision, according to a statement emailed to the American Press.

“The agency conducted a thorough review of the project which represents economic growth for the five-parish area,” said George Swift, Alliance president/CEO.    

FERC’s approval is not a construction green light for the 550-acre, $10 billion liquified natural gas terminal that plans to ship 24 million tons of gas each year, but it does allow Venture Global to cross an important step off its to-do list. Now, it stands ready to go before the Department of Energy when the pause is lifted.

Earlier this year the Biden administration paused permitting of new LNG projects, asking the Department of Energy to review its guidelines and add economic impact for American consumers and on the environment to its criteria.

“As a result (of this pause), businesses in Southwest Louisiana are feeling the impacts of lost job and business opportunities,” according to a press release from Kim Montie, Cameron Parish Port, Harbor & Terminal District executive director.

The FERC commission approved the terminal and a connecting pipeline by a 2-1 vote. Allison Clements said FERC dissented, saying that CP2 failed to adequately address emissions impact, which would be equivalent to 1.8 million new gas-fueled cars on the road each year or 46 coal-fired plants, according to information provided by environmental advocates who hosted a press conference to call on FERC to vote “no.”

Folks in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes wanted to see a “yes” vote.      

“Our community is on the front line of local, state, national and international job opportunities, economic development, energy independence and national security. The Biden administration needs to understand that our voices are just as important as any other Americans or interest groups opposed to LNG growth,” Montie said.

To communicate that support to more people, including Washington DC, the CameronParish Port, Harbor and Terminal District, in collaboration with the Cameron Parish Police Jury, have released videos that feature residents from Calcasieu and Cameron who express their support for the liquified natural gas (LNG) industry in Southwest Louisiana.

In Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, at least two other projects have FERC approval, and are awaiting the OK from the DOE, Magnolia LNG in Lake Charles and Commonwealth LNG, which will be built near the Venture Global facilities in Cameron Parish.