A surge in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the United States to Europe, particularly Germany, is contributing to a significant expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, despite the increasing calls for drastic reductions in emissions by climate experts.

John Allaire, a retired oil and gas engineer, described the LNG facility in Louisiana as being brightly lit up at night, comparable to Las Vegas, due to the towering 10-meter-high flare emanating from the plant. The Calcasieu Pass facility, operational since early 2022, is one of many similar facilities along the Gulf Coast, super-cooling fracked shale gas for export to Europe, with Germany being a major importer.

Germany, where fracking is prohibited, has seen a substantial increase in LNG imports to compensate for the shortfall in Russian supplies following the conflict in Ukraine. The expansion of gas infrastructure, however, has raised concerns about air and water pollution, as well as its impact on the surrounding wetlands and wildlife.

The Calcasieu Pass plant, owned by Venture Global, is set to undergo further expansion with the construction of an adjoining LNG export facility, CP2, which is expected to surpass the size of its predecessor. Germany’s significant investment in the project, through the state-owned business SEFE, has raised eyebrows, particularly given the environmental issues associated with Venture Global’s current operations.

Venture Global’s existing LNG facility has been the subject of numerous air pollution violations, with the company reportedly operating out of compliance with the US Clean Air Act to meet the rising demand from customers like Germany. Shreyas Vasudevan, a campaign coordinator at the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, highlighted the company’s non-compliance with environmental regulations.

Despite the environmental concerns, in June 2023, SEFE signed a 20-year contract with Venture Global to import millions of tons of LNG annually from the CP2 facility, solidifying Venture Global’s position as Germany’s largest LNG supplier. This move has sparked further criticism regarding Germany’s support for a company with a problematic environmental track record.

While Venture Global’s CEO, Mike Sabel, has emphasized the company’s commitment to working with SEFE to ensure energy security, the environmental impact and regulatory compliance of the expanding LNG operations remain contentious issues.