$13 Billion Commonwealth LNG breaks ground in Cameron Parish with energy secretary, governor on hand

CAMERON, La. (KPLC) — Commonwealth LNG broke ground Thursday on a $13 billion liquefied natural gas export facility in Cameron Parish, marking one of the largest energy investments in Southwest Louisiana’s history and pushing the region closer to becoming America’s LNG capital.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Gov. Jeff Landry were among those on hand for the ceremony, along with Congresswoman Julia Letlow, who is running for U.S. Senate.

The facility will sit on the west bank of the Calcasieu Ship Channel, joining a growing corridor of LNG export terminals in Southwest Louisiana.

Wright called the groundbreaking a signal that the U.S. is open for energy business.

“The world is counting on your success,” Wright said. “Everyone else in the world wants to live free, wealthy, healthy, opportunity-rich lives like Americans. The only way to get there is massively more energy in the world.”

Landry framed the project as a vindication for Louisianans who stuck it out through decades of hardship.

“If you have been in Louisiana through all of the hurricanes, through bad governments, through poor roads, through horrible tax policy, through just basically you stuck it out and everybody else wrote Louisiana off — I’m telling you, you’re winning now,” Landry said.

Landry also said the Commonwealth investment pushes Louisiana past $100 billion in private investment since he took office in January 2023.

However, the project has not been without controversy. According to a Louisiana Illuminator report, a Cameron Parish judge suspended the project’s state permit at one point, citing a lack of environmental review.

Commonwealth Chairman Ben Dell said the company views its presence in Cameron Parish as a long-term responsibility.

“Commonwealth is being built in a real community, and that comes with responsibility. We have an obligation to be safe, transparent, reliable, environmentally responsible, and accountable to the community that hosts us,” Dell said.

Dell added that the company’s investment extends beyond the facility itself.

“We want to invest in the community as well in terms of the school, the education, the health care system, and really support the community growing. We want to put an investment in the ground here that’s here for 50 years, the community are proud of, and that ultimately brings economic prosperity to everyone associated with it,” Dell said.

Construction is expected to support up to 2,000 jobs, with 300 permanent positions once the facility is operational. According to Commonwealth’s website, it expects to begin exporting LNG by 2029.