Stories

Thu, 30 Jul 2026

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 The once-destroyed community that's now a global energy giant

A US county wiped out by a hurricane is now the world's largest exporter of liquified natural gas.

* Cameron Parish, Louisiana, has transformed from a devastated area after Hurricane Rita in 2005 to one of the wealthiest counties in the region due to the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
* The Sabine Pass LNG terminal is the world's largest, and the county is home to three other LNG terminals, with a fourth under construction.
* The LNG boom has brought high-paying jobs and a sense of hope to the community, with some residents' children able to find employment without leaving home.
* However, the EU's reliance on American LNG is causing concerns about price increases and energy security, particularly in Germany.
* German households are facing higher electricity bills due to increased gas prices, which have risen by over 74% since the Ukraine war.
* A US-EU trade deal committing Europe to $750bn of American energy over three years has locked the relationship in further.