In a significant move, the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment on Tuesday voted down legislation that sought to grant each of the state’s 64 parishes the authority to approve or deny carbon capture and sequestration projects within their jurisdictions, Louisiana Illuminator reports.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Chuck Owen, R-Rosepine, was defeated 10-6, with bipartisan opposition and all supporting votes coming from Republicans. Louisiana currently has approximately 30 proposed CCS projects aimed at reducing industrial carbon emissions by storing the carbon underground. Proponents argue that CCS is a critical tool for mitigating climate change and sustaining the state’s oil and gas industry while opponents raise concerns about the technology’s safety, environmental impact and the potential infringement on local autonomy.
In an interview after the vote, Owen said he believes the oil and gas industry is investing in the technology in response to so-called “legacy lawsuits” against their companies for damages to Louisiana’s coastal wetlands.
