Press release
May 30, 2024
Contact: Bekah Hinojosa, bekahbot@gmail.com at 956-975-6634
Rio Grande Valley groups urging County to deny multi-million dollar handout to LNG Companies
Local organizations, the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe, and residents gathered outside the County Courthouse to oppose tax abatements for LNG and delivered petitions to County officials.
Brownsville, TX – On Wednesday, community groups rallied at the Cameron County building in Brownsville to urge commissioners to vote no to a multi-million dollar tax abatement for the proposed Rio Grande LNG and Texas LNG, a decision on the agenda for the June 4th commissioners court meeting.
“I am disappointed in Cameron County commissioners,” said Yvette Salazar, RGV campus organizer with Texas Rising. “It seems like Cameron County commissioners have chosen to betray our own hard-working community for the benefit of a company worth millions of dollars. In ten years, Cameron County will allow big corporations to take advantage of our city, ruining our air quality, the health of our residents, and our beautiful ecosystem. Those who willingly approve these tax abatements are nothing but sellouts to their very community because, at the end of the day, they won’t be living with the consequences of their actions, we will.”
Residents chanted, “LNG stands for lies and greed,” and then walked into the Cameron County Courthouse to deliver copies of the report and nearly 400 petitions opposing LNG tax abatements to the offices of County Commissioner Precincts 1, 2, Judge Trevino, the County Clerk, and Planning & Development. Inside the courthouse, a police officer dissuaded residents from presenting documents to their elected officials, and a staff member for Commissioner Precinct 2 suggested throwing away the copies of reports and petitions delivered in the trash. County staff blatantly tried to prevent meaningful public engagement from organizations that already feel unheard by some county commissioners.
“Texas LNG just asked the regulator for another extension because this gas project is facing a lawsuit and is opposed by the community, like the City of Port Isabel, and it is clearly a failed project. Rio Grande LNG, another billion-dollar fossil fuel corporation, is already bulldozing wetlands along HWY 48 while facing a lawsuit because the regulator cut corners in reviewing the permit,” said Bekah Hinojosa, South Texas Environmental Justice Network. “Cameron County Commissioners should reject tax abatements for LNG.”
Speakers from different organizations shared their concerns about the proposed LNG projects, which would pollute the community’s air and destroy wildlife habitat. Leaders expressed their opposition to the LNG companies’ request for tax abatements that would allow them to avoid paying potentially a combined $334 million of taxes to the impoverished Cameron County. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network members shared the details of the new 2024 report: “LNG Tax Abatements are a Bad Deal for Cameron County.”
The coalition of Rio Grande Valley organizations that led the rally includes South Texas Environmental Justice Network, Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, Texas Rising, South Texas Human Rights Center, Valley Interfaith, Border Workers United, and Cameron County residents. Residents gathered outside the Cameron County building (1100 E Monroe St) in Brownsville with a banner and signs to urge the commissioners to vote against tax abatement deals for the Texas LNG and Rio Grande LNG projects.
“Texas LNG plans to build its toxic gas facility on the historic Native site, Garcia Pasture, which is recognized by the National Park Service and is pristine sacred land to us. Granting tax abatements to LNG companies would only encourage the destruction of these historic sites and nearby habitats. Cameron County must deny these abatements,” said Juan Mancias, Chairman of the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, to residents in attendance.
“Granting these abatements would allow Texas LNG to avoid paying $34 million in taxes yearly over ten years. We call on the Commissioners to prioritize the wellbeing of our community and reject these tax abatements,” said Rosalie Tristan with Valley Interfaith.
Following the response from the County staff, residents continued to reiterate the need for commissioners to meet with the coalition before they vote. They urged locals who oppose the tax abatements to attend the hearing on June 4 and make a public comment.
For nearly a decade, nearby Rio Grande Valley communities and the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe have opposed the Rio Grande LNG, Texas LNG, and Rio Bravo Pipeline projects by filing lawsuits, protesting banks financing the projects, and passing anti-LNG resolutions. The FERC faces several lawsuits for reapproving the LNG projects.
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South Texas Environmental Justice Network supports the leadership of frontline BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. It includes numerous organizations, campaigns, individuals, and Tribal leadership from the South Texas region that challenge the status quo and corporate power to build a future aligned in values that centers on the social and environmental health of local communities living in reciprocal relationships with our shared natural home. https://www.facebook.com/SOTXEJN
The Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe of Texas are the original native people from the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas. To learn more about the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, visit http://www.carrizocomecrudonation.com.