Houma’s Black Elk offers energy relief

Black Elk Energy, the Houston-based oil-exploration company drilling for oil off the coast of Terrebonne Parish, has created a fund called Empowering the Community to help low-income Terrebonne Parish residents pay their home energy bills.

The money will be a supplement to funds already available to residents through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, said Black Elk spokeswoman Ashley Carter.

“Money will come from both programs,” Carter said. “It’s additional money for LIHEAP.”

The Black Elk fund will have the same guidelines used for residents applying for assistance money from LIHEAP.

Residents apply at the parish Housing and Human Services Department, 809 Barrow Street in Houma, (985) 873-6892.

Black Elk was unable to give money directly to LIHEAP, so the company created its own fund to help low-income families, Carter said.

The Louisiana Association of Community Action Partnerships will administer the Black Elk fund. The association, which also administers LIHEAP funds, mainly represents programs assisting low-income families.

Black Elk is funding Empowering the Community with a percentage of the company’s profits, Carter said.

The company is drilling in the 2,500-acre South Timbalier Block 8 field.

Black Elk plans to drill for oil in other Louisiana parishes, Carter said, starting home energy assistance programs in those parishes as well.