Cameron Parish, Louisiana Transforms into Global LNG Hub

In 2005 Hurricane Rita devastated Cameron Parish in southern Louisiana, destroying more than 90% of homes and leaving $2.75 billion in repair costs. Years later, the parish of about 4,700 residents has become an energy powerhouse. Sabine Pass, built on former marshland, is now the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal, capable of processing 29.5 million tonnes a year. Two additional LNG plants operate in the county and a fourth, Commonwealth LNG, under construction at a cost of $13 billion, is slated to add 9.5 million tonnes annually by 2030 – enough to heat six million homes. Across all facilities, Cameron Parish is projected to collect over $4 billion in tax revenue over the next decade. The surge has helped the United States become the world’s top LNG supplier, with roughly 60% of its LNG exports and two‑thirds of those originating from Cameron Parish. Michael Fewell, former hurricane‑era teenager, now chairs the parish council and says the community is poised to become one of the region’s wealthiest.