The Louisiana Legislative Session kicks off this week!

By Jackson Voss, AAE's Climate Policy Coordinator

While it is a fiscal session – meaning the focus is intended to primarily be on tax policy – legislators will consider many issues, including bills aimed at regulating or restricting carbon capture projects; strengthening air and water monitoring; and fostering development of an offshore wind industry.

AAE will be paying particular attention to a bill relating to utility securitization – SB51 would allow utilities to pass off decommissioning costs for coal-fired power plants to ratepayers as fees on monthly utility bills. These are costs that ratepayers have already borne at least once before, and this bill would let a few utilities off the hook for recent, poor investment decisions by raising power bills for all Louisianans.

Another key area of interest for AAE and environmental justice advocates are several bills aimed at regulating or restricting carbon capture projects. Carbon capture – also known as Carbon Capture Sequestration or Storage (CCS) – utilizes unproven techniques and technologies, and despite claims that it can “decarbonize” fossil fuel extraction and use, has so far led to higher emissions where it has been “deployed.” CCS proposals usually involve drilling wells and laying pipelines to inject highly toxic waste products underground or into salt domes permanently. Anyone familiar with Louisiana’s track record with abandoned oil wells and infrastructure, and the leaks that often originate from them, would rightly be concerned with just how permanent this storage can really be.

The Louisiana Coalition Against False Solutions is hosting a “lobby day” on April 18, 2023 for any and all Louisianans who are concerned about carbon capture to come and talk about these issues directly with legislators, and show support for bills that will stop or regulate these projects. We hope to see you there!

RSVP for Lobby Day