PORT SULPHUR, La. – A significant expansion is underway at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in southeast Louisiana. This development comes as part of a push for U.S. energy policies focused on increasing oil and gas exports under President Donald Trump. Cabinet members spoke to an excited crowd of workers, emphasizing the importance of this growth.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum addressed workers at Venture Global’s facility, pointing out a planned $18 billion expansion aimed at exporting LNG to Europe and Asia. He reassured the workers that President Trump supports their growth, stating, “President Trump is fighting for you every day because he believes in U.S. energy dominance.”
Burgum was joined by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who aims to boost oil and gas production in the U.S. Their goal is to reinstate energy initiatives that have been curtailed under the current administration. Wright, a fossil fuel executive, shared his vision of revitalizing American energy and business.
Both leaders dismissed concerns raised by former Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. She warned that unlimited LNG exports could lead to higher domestic prices and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. However, Burgum claimed it is possible to export energy while keeping costs manageable for American consumers. The Biden administration had previously halted new LNG export approvals, but Trump’s team is actively promoting further exports.
Venture Global just went public and faced a stock drop of over a third after revealing falling revenues linked to decreased LNG exports. Despite this, CEO Michael Sabel expressed optimism about the company’s future as it works to expand rapidly.
In Cameron Parish, Venture Global seeks approval for an LNG terminal next to its existing facility. This new terminal could export 20 million tons of LNG annually but may also produce significant greenhouse gas emissions, according to its application currently under review.
Burgum declared, “Today is the celebration of America getting back to building export facilities.” He emphasized that government support is crucial for these projects. Despite this, community groups in Louisiana have voiced worries about environmental impacts related to Venture Global’s operations.
Critics have pointed out that the company has often fallen short of compliance with pollution limits at its Cameron Parish facility, citing over 2,000 permit violations in its first year, including excessive flaring. A former oil engineer turned environmental activist, John Allaire, claims to have documented incidents of alarming flaring and chemical releases.
On the other hand, Sabel contends that Venture Global adheres to all environmental standards, maintaining there have been no annual exceedances of pollution limits. He reassured that the company is in regular communication with regulators and local authorities, highlighting their commitment to compliance.
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Source linkDoug Burgum,John Allaire,environment,Climate,Joe Biden,Chris Wright,U.S. news,Business,Washington news,Donald Trump,Michael Sabel,Jennifer Granholm
