Legislators Push Back on Carbon Capture as Landowners Demand Stronger Protections

According to the Center Square, lawmakers are expected to hear and deliberate on a series of bills aimed at curbing the development of the carbon sequestration industry in Louisiana. 

Louisiana Rep. Joseph Orgeron, R-Jefferson, has validated the concerns of the local folk on the topic of carbon capture. At the same time, is aware of the significance of technology in alleviating industrial emissions. Today, Rep Orgeron will preside over a critical discussion on what the future of carbon capture will look like.

Orgeron has told the Center Square that while he understands the reasons why certain constituents wish not to go along with the carbon capture projects within their parishes. At the same time, he also shared that since he represents an area that was heavily into hydrocarbon harvesting in the 1950s and 1960s, and has lived adjacent to such an industry, it’s natural for people, including him, to be more receptive to the oil and gas industry. 

Read More: What is Carbon Capture and Storage?

It is also worth noting that Orgeron leads Louisiana’s Clean Hydrogen Task Force and is a prominent champion of low-carbon technologies, which have the ability to lower carbon emissions without disregarding the state’s conventional energy sector. 

According to Orgeron, “In Louisiana, we have the hydrocarbons, like natural gas, that can then be cracked to make the hydrogen feedstock that's needed. And rather than release [the carbon] into the environment… basically capture that carbon and sequester it safely in underground pore space that we also have a large amount of."

As shared earlier, while he is open and has accepted the willingness of certain parishes to hinder carbon capture projects, he also added that these people would have to let go of all benefits, including monetary benefits acquired from the added space and industry, and that may be received from the carbon sequestration in Louisiana. 

Also Read: 5 Best Carbon Accounting Software in 2025

In a nutshell, the Louisiana legislation is mostly being supported by Republican lawmakers hailing from western and central parts of the state, primarily focusing on issues such as land seizure rules and public notices, with the intent to empower landowners with additional rights and strengthen local control. 

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Source: Business Report