Blog Archives

Will the EPA Listen to Louisiana's People?

6/22/2023

Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held three days of hearings to allow the public to offer input regarding whether the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources’ (LDNR) should be given permitting primacy for Class VI carbon waste injection wells.

Primacy essentially means the LNDR will be given the authority to give out permits to companies that want to build these kinds of injection wells, which store carbon captured from power plants and other industrial facilities. Currently that authority rests with the EPA, which has more resources than the LNDR to rigorously protect our drinking water, land, and air.

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It's time for Community Solar Rules that produce results

6/22/2023

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By Jesse George, AAE's New Orleans Policy Director

In April of this year, the New Orleans City Council took action on a motion by Madison Energy Investments to amend the City’s community solar rules. The Council granted Madison’s motion in part, increasing the eligible project size from 2MW to 5MW, and re-opened the docket for comment by stakeholders on a variety of issues.

Since the Council adopted the City’s community solar rules in 2019, there has been no development in community solar. Quite simply, the current rules do not provide adequate financial incentive to community solar developers.

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Alarming New Report: The Carbon Capture Sequestration Gold Rush Is On

6/12/2023

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Press Release published by the 2030 Fund & Louisiana Against False Solutions

An alarming new report commissioned by the 2030 Fund details dramatic expansion of 27 new projects throughout Louisiana, while EPA permitting decision hangs in the balance.

Get the rundown on the report in 2030 Fund & Louisiana Against False Solutions' (LAFS) press release.

Read 2030 Fund's Press Release

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Public hearing on primacy around CCS injection wells

6/7/2023

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Next week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be hosting three days of public hearings from June 21-23 on the issue of whether or not Louisiana will be granted primacy over Class VI wells. This is notable for a couple of reasons.

First, primacy over Class VI wells – which are wells that are used to inject carbon dioxide into deep rock formations, a process known as carbon capture and sequestration / storage (CCS) – would mean that Louisiana would become the third state in the country to fully oversee all permitting and regulation of CCS projects in the state (the other two are Wyoming and North Dakota).

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A Community Dialogue with your Representatives

6/6/2023

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By Brenna Landis, JD Candidate, Class of 2023, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

On March 23, 2023, the Alliance for Affordable Energy hosted a virtual community dialogue in partnership with two of its interns, Carrie Anne Ducote and Brenna Landis – law students at Loyola New Orleans College of Law.

Carrie and Brenna created a group called the Louisiana Utility Watchdog as a way to highlight the power imbalance at the state level between regulated investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and the public, the bill-paying ratepayers.

We were honored to have Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis and State Representative Matthew Willard join as special guests. The dialogue focused on the Securitization Act, which allows utilities to purchase securities (basically loans) to repair infrastructure damaged by storms, and to pass those repair costs onto ratepayers.

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Effort to Give Oil Companies $97 Million Tax Break in Louisiana Halted by Sara Sneath

6/5/2023

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Article by Sara Sneath
Originally published by DeSmog
May 31, 2023

The latest vote was postponed after state senators considered shoring up the budget with a natural gas tax.

For the fifth time, a Louisiana lawmaker has introduced legislation to try to reduce the tax that fossil fuel firms pay on oil they produce in the state. The original version of the bill introduced by Rep. Phillip DeVillier this spring would have cost the state $97 million over the next five years, according to a Louisiana Legislative Fiscal Office report.

“It’s just so much money,” said Rep. Mandie Landry, who voted against the bill in the House Committee on Ways and Means and again when it was before the full House.

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The Watchdog

Will the EPA Listen to Louisiana's People?

It's time for Community Solar Rules that produce results

Alarming New Report: The Carbon Capture Sequestration Gold Rush Is On

Public hearing on primacy around CCS injection wells

A Community Dialogue with your Representatives

Effort to Give Oil Companies $97 Million Tax Break in Louisiana Halted by Sara Sneath

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