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.
The report shows that there are at least twenty currently planned sites for underground carbon dioxide storage across Louisiana, and the number of projects are expected to expand. The report also catalogs the planned construction of thousands of miles of related carbon dioxide pipelines. Most developers of these projects are oil companies, including major multinational companies. Detailed maps and tables of existing plans show that the majority of this new construction is slated to occur near major population centers, wetlands, and some protected natural areas.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a process by which industrial carbon dioxide emissions are captured, transported, and injected underground. There are not any such projects yet operating in Louisiana, but dozens of initiatives are now in development following the passage of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and an April 2023 Environmental Protection Agency announcement about permitting jurisdiction.
“Carbon dioxide is a very dangerous substance,” says Daryl Malek-Wiley, Senior Organizer with Sierra Club. “CO2 is an asphyxiant, inhaling large amounts of it can cause suffocation or death. Carbon dioxide is also an intoxicant, like alcohol–breathing high concentrations can lead to confusion. This makes it harder to evacuate if a CO2 pipeline bursts near you. Finally, carbon dioxide stalls engines, which means that personal cars and ambulances might not work in the event of a CO2 pipeline emergency. These are just a few reasons why carbon dioxide pipelines are not safe for communities.”
“CCS is not an unproven technology, it is proven not to work. Just because CCS has been around for decades, that doesn’t mean that it works. In fact, CCS is the same idea behind the failed clean coal rhetoric. A recent study found that 13 out of 15 major CCS projects around the world have failed to meet their targets. We have proven solutions to climate change, and CCS is not one of them. We need to invest in renewables, reduce emissions, and actually move towards a just transition, not waste tax dollars and precious time on a dangerous false solution,” said Logan Burke, Executive Director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy.
This investigation is the first installment in a series of three. The second report will examine financial interests backing new CCS infrastructure and the billions of dollars in federal funding required to make it profitable. The third report will examine some of the risks inherent in the rapid expansion of this new industry, the insurance policies being developed to cover those risks, and the potential liabilities to which Louisianans may be exposed.
The research was compiled by Empower LLC and commissioned by the 2030 Fund.
Media Contacts:
Dustin Renaud: drenaud@earthjustice.org
Stephannie Kettle: skettle@healthygulf.org, (407) 361-9432
Louisiana Against False Solutions (LAFS) is a group of more than 20 organizations leading in Louisiana and nationally for environmental, racial, and social justice. LAFS includes expertise across a range of disciplines: law, environmental science, geology, steel and materials scientists, traditional and Indigenous knowledge-holders, experienced campaigners, fisherfolk, and frontline communities.
The 2030 Fund is a philanthropic initiative focused on advancing a just transition to reach Louisiana’s climate goals for this decade. The Fund works with local organizations and community leaders to build a Louisiana that will remain vibrant, resilient, and successful in 2030 and beyond.
