In 2023, Louisiana celebrated securing Class VI primacy from the Environmental Protection Agency. At the time, I gave a statement to the press that Louisiana gaining the ability to do its own permitting of carbon capture and storage projects was putting our state “on the verge of a new golden age” of energy production and all that comes with it — new jobs, more state revenue and a stronger economy.
With carbon capture and storage poised to take American energy dominance to new heights, we were years ahead of any other state.
As the Trump administration repealed many of the Biden-era tax credits, it doubled down on support for carbon capture and storage in the One Big Beautiful Bill because the technology is viable and has a market demand.
In the two years that followed Louisiana gaining primacy, industry announced $70 billion in new investment coming to our state, almost all with a carbon capture and storage component. Investments like this coming to fruition can create more of the job opportunities that will keep our kids here in Louisiana and improve lives across our state.
But as we’ve had the opportunity to use this existing technology to supercharge Louisiana’s economy past other Southern states, we have spent two legislative sessions debating whether to kneecap the biggest economic advantage Louisiana has had in our lifetime.
Now, almost two years since gaining Class VI primacy, Louisiana has only permitted one project, and Texas is on the verge of surpassing us.
This week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it has awarded Texas with Class VI primacy, officially erasing Louisiana’s head start. My counterpart at the Texas Oil and Gas Association Todd Staples is saying “Texas is now poised to lead the world in CCS, which means more investment and more jobs for Texans.”
While we no longer have the lead, the game is not over. Companies are deciding, right now, whether it is better to do business in Louisiana or Texas. They are looking at regulatory uncertainty, the influence of antibusiness trial attorneys, and the hesitancy of a state to seize clear opportunities.
We still have the potential to take back the leadership position that is attracting so much opportunity to our state. We just need to grasp it.
