(The Center Square) − Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has made significant headway in its mission to protect the state’s vulnerable coastline, showcasing 109 active projects in its latest annual report.
These initiatives include hurricane protection, wetland restoration, and community resilience efforts, all vital to mitigating the effects of erosion and climate change.
The CPRA recently highlighted 16 hurricane protection projects, including 15 in the engineering phase, while wetland restoration efforts dominate the agenda with 11 marsh creation projects under construction and 24 more in the pipeline. The authority also made strides in shoreline protection, barrier island rehabilitation, and hydrologic restoration.
A recently approved constitutional amendment will channel federal revenues from offshore wind projects directly into CPRA’s coastal fund. Authority Chair Gordy Dave expressed gratitude to voters, stating the new funding will allow Louisiana to reinvest millions into flood defenses and resident protection.
This year, CPRA initiated 16 new construction projects valued at $3 billion, restoring over 10,000 acres of wetlands and upgrading 11.3 miles of levees.
Noteworthy completions include enhancements to Cypremort Point State Park, bank stabilization in the Freshwater Bayou, and marsh creation in Cameron Parish.
Ongoing efforts include the LaBranche East Marsh Creation in St. Charles Parish, the Grand Isle Beach and Dune Restoration in Jefferson Parish, and the ambitious $300 million Chandeleur Island Restoration.
Hurricane Francine served as a real-world test of CPRA’s work, demonstrating how completed projects effectively mitigated storm damage. Key undertakings like the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain levee system and the Maurepas Swamp restoration continue to bolster the state’s defenses.
While Louisiana’s coastal protection efforts gain momentum, broader challenges loom for the offshore wind industry, perhaps hindering the now-accessible funding for Louisiana’s coast. French energy giant TotalEnergies recently paused a project near New York, worrying that the incoming Trump administration will be unfriendly to the project.
Trump has been ritical of offshore wind and pledged to end such projects through executive orders and reduced tax credits.
“We are going to make sure that that ends on Day 1,” Trump said at a New Jersey rally in May. “I’m going to write it out in an executive order. It’s going to end on Day 1.”
“They destroy everything, they’re horrible, the most expensive energy there is,” Trump said. “They ruin the environment, they kill the birds, they kill the whales.”
Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne announced during a conference in London on Tuesday that the company has decided to pause its offshore wind project in New York in light of Donald Trump’s return. “Offshore wind, I have decided to put the project on pause,” Pouyanne stated, according to Bloomberg News. He added, “I said to my team, the project in New York, we’ll see that in four years. But the advantage is it’s only for four years.”
Despite these challenges, CPRA remains optimistic about securing future funding, with its $1.7 billion annual plan receiving unanimous state legislative approval, none of which was sourced from offshore winds. Projects like the Houma Lock Complex, Maurepas Swamp reintroduction, and shoreline stabilization in Southwest Louisiana are set to transform coastal resilience across the state. Louisiana’s U.S. House delegation is currently pursuing legislation to increase the state’s share of federal revenues from Gulf oil, gas, and offshore wind projects. The bill proposes allocating 50% of offshore wind revenues to states near the projects, with closer states receiving more, and guarantees a minimum 10% share to all eligible states. It also reduces the federal share of Gulf oil and gas revenues under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, increasing Louisiana’s portion. However, without President Joe Biden’s approval, the related state constitutional amendment would be ineffective, as federal authority ultimately governs the wind royalties.
