Latest News

The coronavirus has presented Louisiana with unprecedented challenges in recent weeks. But while we continue to work through this together, it is important we don’t lose sight of the long-term. This pandemic will pass, and when it does, our state’s energy industry stands ready to play a key role in ensuring Louisiana is stronger than ever before. While global demand for natural gas and oil has temporarily fallen and Saudi Arabia and Russia continue to flood the already-depressed oil market, we cannot put the brakes on LNG infrastructure investment. When we emerge from this pandemic, natural gas will remain a… Read More

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana today ruled in favor of the federal government and pipeline operator Energy Transfer, finding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers adequately studied any potential environmental impacts of the Bayou Bridge Pipeline in Louisiana. This is just the latest development in legal challenges from environmental groups regarding the permitted pipeline’s operation. Bayou Bridge is a 162-mile crude oil pipeline that connects Louisiana ports in St. James and Lake Charles to a broader network of pipelines. It has been safely operating since April 2019. Statement from Randy Hayden, Presidents of Louisianians for… Read More

Louisiana’s LNG industry continues to bring significant benefits to both the global energy market and to the people of Louisiana. Earlier this week Cameron LNG announced that its second liquefied natural gas production unit is now operational at its Hackberry, Louisiana facility. With a third train yet to be completed, the ongoing expansion of their natural gas export capacity represents a major victory for American energy independence and economic prosperity. Increased domestic production of natural gas has reduced our nation’s reliance on foreign sources of energy subject to volatility and external influence. Beyond enhancing our national security, heightened American natural… Read More

Earlier this week, Energy Transfer and Shell announced that a comprehensive commercial tender package has been issued to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors to submit final commercial bids for the proposed Lake Charles LNG liquefaction project under consideration in Lake Charles, LA. The project, if sanctioned by Energy Transfer and Shell, would modify Energy Transfer’s existing LNG import facility to add LNG liquefaction capacity of 16.45 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) for export to global markets. The commercial bids are expected to be received in the second quarter of 2020. Both Shell and Energy Transfer have expressed their enthusiasm… Read More

Louisianians for Energy President Randy Hayden’s latest letter to the editor in the Daily Iberian: As The Advocate recently noted, the state of Louisiana now leads the nation in natural gas exports. This is great news for our state — particularly in light of the number of proposed export facilities that promise to maintain economic growth for the Gulf Coast for years to come. According to the report, “Louisiana already produces the majority of U.S. LNG exported around the world and that dominance is expected to grow exponentially if all the planned projects come online.” These planned projects — including… Read More

According to a recent article in The Advocate, the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper and other environmental groups have filed a claim against the Bayou Bridge Pipeline stating concerns that the pipeline is causing environmental hazards to waterways in the Atchafalaya Basin. Dean Wilson, the founder and director of the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, has made a name for himself by taking journalists and news outlets on tours of the Basin, pointing out areas where he alleges pipeline officials have failed to remediate. Opponents like Mr. Wilson have presented no sound evidence that the images and “hydrologic impacts” have anything to do with the pipeline’s… Read More

Over the weekend, Area Development reported on Louisiana’s recent economic development boom across key sectors including oil and gas, petrochemicals, and advanced manufacturing. The state’s gross domestic product (GDP) hit an all-time high of $255.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018 and through July 2019, Louisiana secured 37 major projects that accumulated $7.6 billion in new capital investment.  According to a Louisiana Economic Development spokesperson, the investment will create over 6,400 new jobs for the region. This development is especially positive for Louisiana’s workforce, the article notes: “Over the past decade, Louisiana has invested nearly $300 million in higher-education… Read More

Late last week, The Advocate reported three Bayou Bridge Pipeline protesters filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge challenging a Louisiana law aimed at protecting critical infrastructure, including pipelines, claiming that their First Amendment rights were violated. This is just the latest in a long string of protester antics and legal challenges to the Bayou Bridge Pipeline and Louisiana’s energy infrastructure. The fact is that while protesting the pipeline, activists broke the law and were arrested. A troubling norm has developed in which protesters decide to pick and choose what laws they want to follow. Despite… Read More

The Bayou Bridge Pipeline has been fully operational for more than three months – safely transporting crude oil 160 miles across the southern part of our state. In addition to helping meet the energy needs of Louisianians, the pipeline provides a strong economic boost with jobs and new streams of tax revenue. Despite the pipeline’s completion and safe operation, environmental activists continue to do whatever it takes to undermine the project. Opponents’ vigilante tactics did not succeed in stopping the project’s completion, so they’ve moved on to the courts. In the latest legal action, activist group Atchafalaya Basinkeeper has called… Read More

This week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will convene a hearing on “the Important Role of U.S. LNG in Evolving Global Markets.” The Committee is right to shine a light on this growing industry as well as the role that the U.S. is increasingly playing in meeting the world’s energy needs with clean-burning natural gas, helping to lower emissions in the process. Much of that economic activity is occurring right here in Louisiana – thanks to recently completed LNG export projects like the Driftwood project in Calcasieu Parish and the Calcasieu Pass LNG project, as well… Read More