La. Governor Blocks Gas Port Off Coast

Louisiana’s governor has blocked a natural gas port of the coast of the state because there isn’t enough information on its environmental effects.

In a letter to New Orleans-based Freeport McMoRan Energy LLC, Gov. Kathleen Blanco wrote that approval of the billion-dollar liquefied gas port would violate the state’s duty to protect the ecosystem both on land and in the ocean.

The company’s proposed Main Pass Energy Hub would supply 350 billion cubic feet of natural gas a year at a facility 16 miles off the state’s coast, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Bill Collier, vice president of communications for Freeport, said, We are disappointed in this initial response to our permit application.

The Main Pass project was touted by Freeport as an economic boon for the state, creating 900 jobs and $85.6 million in the three years it would take to build.

Several federal agencies had vouched for the port and the Maritime Administration allowed it, but Blanco’s veto kills the plan as it is.

Her opposition rests on an open loop system where the plant uses seawater to reheat the gas.

She said that would have untold consequences on aquatic life and urged the company to change their plans to closed loop system, using other gas to reheat the natural gas.