Giant Underground Gas Caverns Get a Bureaucratic Boost in Louisiana
Published Date: 5/11/2026
Notice
Summary
Black Bayou Gas Storage wants to change how it builds four giant underground gas caverns in Louisiana. These changes will let each cavern hold 2.4 billion more cubic feet of working gas, making storage bigger and better. If you want to speak up or get involved, you’ve got 90 days to do it—so don’t wait!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Rights of Intervenors and Legal Standing
If you file a timely motion to intervene by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 27, 2026, you can become a party to the proceeding and have the right to request rehearing of Commission orders and later challenge those orders in the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal. Timely, unopposed motions to intervene are automatically granted; late motions must show good cause under Rule 214 to be considered.
Per-Cavern Storage Capacity Changes
Black Bayou proposes modifying all four caverns at its Black Bayou Storage Facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana to increase working gas capacity by 2.4 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per cavern (from 9.7 Bcf to 11.1 Bcf) and to decrease base gas by 0.3 Bcf per cavern (from 4.5 Bcf to 4.2 Bcf). The caverns were previously approved on July 24, 2025 but have not yet been constructed.
Deadline to Comment or Intervene
You have until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 27, 2026 to file a motion to intervene, submit comments, or file a protest in Docket No. CP26-257-000. There is no fee to file comments or to intervene, and you may submit them via eComment, eFiling (eRegister), or by mail referencing the docket number.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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