𝗨𝗥𝗚𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗭𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗭, 𝗝𝗥 𝗧𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗔 𝗠𝗨𝗖𝗛 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧!

 

Port of Brownsville Ship Channel Still Awaiting Dredging

Via an April 13, 2024 article in the Rio Grande Guardian, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, Jr. giddily announced the "securing" of $1.1M for Vessel Suitability Analysis and Feasibility "project."

We could save our federal government the $1.1M by just reporting that the port's ship canal needs to be deeper and wider to accommodate larger sailing vessels.  That wasn't hard, was it?

Officials at the Port of Brownsville have been talking about dredging for several years, increasing the depth from 42 to 52 feet.  

Now, another million bucks will be spent to find out dredging is needed.

Rio Grande LNG

Back in April 2019, Rio Grande LNG, owned by Next Decade, promised to pay "100%" of the cost of Phase I of the dredging operation, then estimated to cost $300M.  What happened with that?  Did Rio Grande LNG sign an agreement and can that paperwork be located?

Or, do we have to start over with another feasibility study?

Oh, BTW, Congressman Gonzalez, why don't you let Rio Grande LNG also cover the cost of the suitability analysis, the $1.1M?

Don't you remember that the Cameron County Commissioners Court awarded Rio Grande LNG a $373M tax break in 2017?

The LNG plant has enough in the kitty to cover the cost of dredging and the requisite study.  

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, Jr.

Would it not be preferable if Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, Jr. insist Rio Grande LNG pay for the dredging as promised?

Yes, that would be a much more impressive announcement by the congressman.