In the race to build a more competitive energy economy, carbon capture and storage is no longer a theory — it’s a race. And in that race, Texas is gaining fast on Louisiana.
CCS is vital to the future of heavy industry — cement, steel, refining, and chemical production — sectors that form the economic backbone of Louisiana. But without consistent support, streamlined permitting, and a clear path to project development, the state risks watching opportunity drift across the Sabine River into Texas.
For two years, Louisiana has held the advantage. It was one of the first three states in the nation to gain primacy from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — the authority to permit and oversee Class VI wells used for long-term CO2 storage. The Bayou State has the infrastructure, deep geologic formations, and the bulk of a CO2 pipeline network next-generation energy sector.