Climate Initiatives Drive Cleaner Future and Business Development

Louisiana has begun to realize the profound economic benefit of diversifying its energy sector in a way that supports global climate initiatives. Speaking before the U.S. Senate and on the global stage at the COP26 summit, Gov. John Bel Edwards touted the state’s unique solutions for continuing to serve existing fossil fuel markets while responsibly transitioning to a cleaner energy future.

Louisiana has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050 and the state launched LouisianaNetZero.com to highlight its achievements that are helping meet this goal.

In October, Gov. Edwards announced Louisiana’s participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Race to Zero campaign, a global effort of thousands of governments, higher education institutions and businesses committed to taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid further worsening effects of climate change on the world’s communities.

“We have ideal geology to serve as carbon sinks, highly concentrated industrial corridors to serve as carbon sources and a highly trained workforce that could easily adapt to the type of labor required to build and operate carbon capture, use and sequestration projects and infrastructure.”

Nathan McBride, Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association Regulatory Affairs Manager

Already, Louisiana has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050, launched a Climate Initiatives Task Force and joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors committed to state-led action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Many of the state’s advantages that have long made it a perfect fit for the oil and gas industry are now leading to investments in solar and wind power, carbon capture and sequestration, and alternative fuels.

✔️ The Gulf of Mexico has been a hub for fossil fuels, and offshore wind opportunities await, with companies in Louisiana well equipped to supply infrastructure and needed manufacturers. 

✔️ Louisiana’s sunny skies offer opportunities for solar power and harnessing energy from the sun represents a major economic development opportunity for the state’s rural communities.

✔️ Along with new energy sources taking a larger role, major investments are being made in carbon capture, use and sequestration technology (CCUS), capturing carbon dioxide to further oil extraction or to trap it underground. Louisiana has natural advantages for carbon control because of its pipelines capable of transporting carbon and subsurface holding areas needed for sequestration.

✔️ Louisiana is a leading agricultural state and industry and byproducts from the state’s corn, sugarcane and soybeans are used to create renewable fuel. Louisiana’s strong timber industry and its biomass byproducts – renewable fuel made from wood pellets – are also areas of investment.

“Louisiana is a national leader in fossil fuels, but it is busy preparing for a green future.”

Jack Rogers, Business Facilities Editor-in-Chief