A Louisiana legislative task force established to consider the local impacts of carbon capture and sequestration will began meeting on Monday.
Projects that include carbon capture could be worth billions in investment, though many local officials and residents are concerned about safety and ecological damage, and some experts question whether the technology even works as advertised.
Established by State Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek, the Senate task force “to study the benefits and revenue streams of carbon capture and sequestration projects and related issues” would also include the attorney general’s office and Keith Hall, who directs LSU’s Energy Law Center.
Industrial gas company Air Products has announced plans to build a multibillion dollar “blue” hydrogen energy complex in Ascension Parish. Plans to inject carbon dioxide associated with the project beneath Lake Maurepas have drawn fierce opposition, though bills that would slow or halt those plans were shot down during this year’s legislative session.
However, one carbon capture regulation bill did survive to be signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, for whom carbon capture is an important element of his goal to reduce the state’s carbon emissions and make Louisiana a leader in the transition to lower-carbon energy. The new law calls for 30% of revenues from carbon storage under state land or water bottoms would go to local governments.
The federal government currently is the primary regulator of the injection wells used in carbon capture, though state officials are seeking the authority to take the leading role.
You can read more about the carbon capture debate in Baton Rouge Business Report.
