Close
KTAR.com
News
Shows
Blogs
KTAR News on 92.3FM

As natural gas expands in Gulf, residents fear rising damage

John Allaire watches flames flare from a liquefied natural gas export facility next to his oceanside property in Cameron, La., on Friday, April 1, 2022. Allaire, a retired environmental engineer in the oil and gas industry, is upset about emissions and noise and light pollution from a flare that has been burning frequently since the Venture Global LNG opened at Calcasieu Pass in recent months. "That big orange glow — it's all night and all day," he says. Allaire is fighting a second export facility, proposed by Commonwealth LNG, that would be even closer to his property. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) A tugboat helps guide a French ship, known as the LNG Endeavor, through Calcasieu Lake near Hackberry, La., on Thursday, March 31, 2022. The ship was on its way to the Cameron LNG export facility to pick up liquified natural gas. Companies and investors have poured $63 billion into building U.S. LNG export terminals over the past decade and could spend more than $100 billion over the next 20 years, according to an analysis by Rystad Energy. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) With the Venture Global LNG facility in the background, John Allaire throws a fishing net into a body of water on his property in Cameron, La., on Friday, April 1, 2022. Allaire, a retired environmental engineer in the oil and gas industry, is upset about emissions and noise and light pollution from a flare that has been burning frequently since the Venture Global site opened in recent months. He is fighting a second LNG export facility even closer to his property. "They would never do this (on) the coast of New Jersey or California or the East Coast or West Coast of Florida," he said of the LNG facilities that have proliferated along the Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) John Allaire drives near his home in Cameron, La., on Friday, April 1, 2022. Allaire, a retired environmental engineer in the oil and gas industry, owns a large swath of rustic oceanside property next to an export facility for liquefied natural gas, or LNG. The gas is converted to liquid so that larger quantities can be sent in ships overseas. Allaire is fighting a proposal to add yet another LNG facility even closer to him. "It'll be a monument to short term planning. And their short term money," he says, "'Let's make it, make it, make it, make it, make it, and then we'll go on to the next thing.'" (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Roishetta Ozane drives through Lake Charles, La., on Thursday, March 31, 2022. As she drove, Ozane, clean energy organizer for an organization called Healthy Gulf, pointed out the many homes and businesses that have been damaged or lost during hurricanes in recent years. She is helping lead the fight against the expansion of export facilities for liquified natural gas, or LNG, in the Lake Charles area. She fears emissions from those facilities and others is making climate change and resulting hurricanes worse. "I feel Southwest Louisiana has been made a sacrificial lamb," Ozane said. "We have to put people before policy." (AP Photo/Martha Irvine A small vehicle drives past a network of piping that makes up pieces of a "train" at Cameron LNG export facility in Hackberry, La., on Thursday, March 31, 2022. Natural gas is cooled at the facility and turned into liquid and sent on massive ships to many parts of the world. Once it arrives at its destination, the liquified natural gas is re-gasified and piped to homes, factories and other places. Demand for natural gas worldwide has been greater than ever since Russia, another major natural gas exporter, invaded Ukraine. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Eric Tarver stands on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in the service area of the Toyota dealership his family owns in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Tarver, who's also a school board member for Calcasieu Parish, is one of many residents who support the expansion of the liquified natural gas, or LNG, industry in the Lake Charles area. Though Louisiana offers a property tax break of 10 years to companies that build LNG terminals there, Tarver says the tax benefits are still huge for the schools and other government agencies. He also says resulting jobs have been a "shot in the arm." To opponents of the LNG expansion on the Gulf Coast, he says, "The global demand for LNG is going to be there whether the U.S. serves it or not." (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Eric Tarver talks with employees on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at the Toyota dealership his family owns in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Tarver, who's also a school board member for Calcasieu Parish, is one of many residents who support the expansion of the liquified natural gas, or LNG, industry in the Lake Charles area. Though Louisiana offers a property tax break of 10 years to companies that build LNG terminals there, Tarver says the tax benefits are still huge for the schools and other government agencies. He also says resulting jobs have been a "shot in the arm." To opponents of the LNG expansion on the Gulf Coast, he says, "The global demand for LNG is going to be there whether the U.S. serves it or not." (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Barbed wire surrounds structures filled with liquefied natural gas at the Cameron LNG export facility in Hackberry, La., on Thursday, March 31, 2022. The export facility is one of several on the Gulf Coast that help get natural gas from the Permian Basin and other parts of Texas to Asia, Europe and other continents. Demand for natural gas worldwide has been soaring since Russia, another major natural gas exporter, invaded Ukraine. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Cindy Robertson, along with her cat and rooster Jack, stands outside her home in Sulphur, La., on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Robertson, whose parents were environmental activists, has taken a stance against the expansion of export facilities for liquified natural gas, or LNG. Natural gas has been in even greater demand worldwide since Russia, another major exporter of natural gas, invaded Ukraine. Some say new LNG export facilities are needed on the Gulf Coast more than ever. But Robertson calls that notion a "farce." "The war in Ukraine is going to be over before we ever get another LNG terminal online," she says. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Cindy Robertson stands next to a pantry box she keeps stocked with items for homeless neighbors outside her home in Sulphur, La., on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Robertson is worried about the impact of emissions from export facilities for liquified natural gas, or LNG. The export facilities are among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in Louisiana, a state with heavy industrial pollution — and more are planned. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) A French ship, known as the LNG Endeavor, docks next to the Cameron LNG export facility near Hackberry, La., on Thursday, March 31, 2022. The ship was filling up with LNG, or liquified natural gas. Natural gas is cooled at the facility and converted to liquid so that bigger quantities can be shipped. It's then converted back to gas when it arrives in Asia, Europe or other destinations. Companies and investors have poured $63 billion into building U.S. LNG export terminals over the past decade and could spend more than $100 billion over the next 20 years, according to an analysis by Rystad Energy. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Lydia Larce goes through construction debris at her home in Lake Charles, La., on Thursday, March 31, 2022. More than a year after Hurricane Laura wreaked havoc on area, Larce is living in a FEMA trailer behind her home. She fears that emissions from the oil and gas industry — including the growing number of liquid natural gas export facilities along the Gulf Coast — will worsen global warming. "Our politicians in D.C., they're not taking it seriously," she says. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Lydia Larce stands in front of construction containers outside her home in Lake Charles, La., on Thursday, March 31, 2022. More than a year after Hurricane Laura wreaked havoc on area, Larce is living in a FEMA trailer behind her home. She fears that emissions from the oil and gas industry — including the growing number of liquid natural gas export facilities along the Gulf Coast — will worsen global warming. "Our politicians in D.C., they're not taking it seriously," she says. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) A flare burns at Venture Global LNG in Cameron, La., on Friday, April 21, 2022. The new facility, which exports liquefied natural gas, is one of several like it along the Gulf Coast — and there are proposals for several more in Louisiana and Texas. Natural gas from the Permian Basin in Texas and other areas is sent by pipeline to the export facilities. It is then cooled and liquefied, making it possible to send much greater quantities by ship to Asia, Europe and other places that are hungry for natural gas. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine)