Industrial projects in Louisiana – new and expanding – are booming. What is driving that growth, and what will the impact be?
It’s the natural resources, it’s the river, it’s the great workforce we have here, it’s the infrastructure. We’ve got a governor and an administration who has made it clear to the world that we’re open for business. The other thing that we don’t talk about enough here in Louisiana is that we have available and affordable power that these companies all need. The state has proven that we can deliver on that. Louisiana has some of the most affordable industrial power in the country, and that is an enormous consideration as companies make plans. The other thing we have several of the top industrial contractors in the world, based right here in Louisiana and Baton Rouge. That is a tremendous resource for the state. We’ve got this attitude that we are open for business, we’ve got incredible resources, we’ve got infrastructure, an amazing port system, and this outstanding network of industrial contractors that make it all go.
Meeting the increasing demand for skilled workers is a monumental challenge. Where do you see progress being made, and where do you seek greater urgency from state, regional and local leaders?
Every company prioritizes its workforce, whether it has been here for decades or is still in the construction phase. People are the foundation of these operations, and Louisiana’s skilled talent pool continues to attract companies looking to invest in our state. We have seen an influx of new projects and investment come into Louisiana that bring with them a need for an even larger, highly skilled workforce. These projects will create thousands of new jobs and we as a state must make sure we provide our communities with resources needed to meet these demands. There is a strong focus on coordination across state leadership, from Susie Schowen at LA Works to Secretary Susan Bourgeois at LED, to expand training opportunities and strengthen workforce development initiatives, and our legislator is currently working through multiple bills to help meet these new demands. We will continue to work with our Louisiana Leadership to ensure that 10 years from now, when these projects are up and running, it is the people of Louisiana who are filling those jobs and supporting these operations.
Energy, manufacturing, process industries and other industrial sectors are operating on the leading edge of the technological revolution. How is the integration of AI and other emerging technologies playing out for you and your stakeholders?
I don’t think there’s a business sector more committed to technological advancements than the petrochemical manufacturing industry. These are some of the biggest companies in the world, and some of the technologies they are using are mind-blowing. In health and safety alone, advances in facility monitoring are absolutely stunning. Drones, for example, have become a major part of facility operations. Instead of sending a person into a potentially dangerous area, you send a drone that can take pinpoint accurate readings. It’s not about replacing jobs—it’s about making them safer. These companies are going to use every available technology to ensure the safety of their people and the health of the communities. Our industry is only continuing to advance. Technologies like carbon management, nuclear and hydrogen are going to reshape how we operate. We’re going to have to embrace these new technologies if we are going to sustain this momentum that has been created and move the state forward.
What do you consider Louisiana’s most important recent legislative or policy wins for industry, and what do you think should be the top legislative priority for building that momentum?
A few years ago, Louisiana became one of the first states in the nation to get primacy on Class IV injection wells, then took legislative action to create a framework around permitting and managing those projects. This helped usher in a tremendous amount of investment, which is obviously great for our state, local companies and our communities. But companies need certainty, and misguided attempts to derail recent momentum by moving the regulatory goalposts have given potential investors a reason to pause. While some of these attempts may be derived from genuine concern, it is worth noting that they are completely consistent with the anti-industry NGO agenda. They are also just the tip of the iceberg. If we allow these attempts to succeed, we will set the table for the next obstruction campaign on the next great industrial opportunity for our state. It’s already happening, and industry must pull together to ensure that these anti-industry, anti-Louisiana tactics fail. As for other legislative priorities, workforce development is at the top of the list. As projects are announced in our state, whether they are new projects or expansions to existing operations, we must fill the jobs created by those projects with as many Louisianans and locals as possible. As a state, we must provide a pathway to high-quality, affordable training to anyone who would like it, and provide ways for them to overcome barriers to that training, whatever those may be.
What is the most critical challenge – and most exciting opportunity – affecting your organization at the moment?
Oil & gas and petrochemical companies provide tens of thousands of direct jobs and a quarter million contractor, supplier and related jobs. We pay 20% of the state’s wages and make up about 25% of the state’s GDP. We pay a large percentage of local taxes in parishes where we operate, in some cases as much as 90%. While we do this, we operate cleaner and safer than we ever have, and provide untold amounts of support to the communities where we operate. At the same time, LCA’s recently released website, louisianahealthfacts.com, shows that health outcomes in Louisiana’s industrial corridor are actually better than the rest of the state, including cancer incidents, cancer mortality, life expectancy and more. Yet we still deal with the false narrative regarding these health outcomes. As a state, we must stand up against the misinformation that has long plagued our industries and our Louisiana workers. We must let those responsible for that information know that we reject their false narrative, and won’t allow it to sidetrack our way of life. LCA has been around the state educating officials and local citizens on this information, and will continue to do so. In doing so, we have had the opportunity to build relationships in these local communities. We have committed to be a resource to locals where our member companies operate, and we plan to double down on that commitment in coming years. It’s been a rewarding effort.
