Environment
BR-NOLA commuter train gets first round of federal infrastructure funding
Louisiana is set to receive its first round of federal infrastructure dollars for five transportation projects across the state, including the proposed commuter rail service connecting Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Gov. John Bel Edwards and state Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shaun Wilson announced in a joint press release Thursday that the federal […]
Inflation Reduction Act would push Louisiana to forefront of clean energy sector
Some policy experts believe Louisiana is one of the better positioned states to take advantage of clean energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that Congress is expected to pass this week. With $485 billion in new spending offset by $790 billion in revenue and savings, the legislation includes the nation’s largest ever investment in […]
Who’s traveling to Europe with Gov. Edwards?
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ 10-day trip to Europe to examine new flood control infrastructure used in Amsterdam and France will include a delegation of state leaders and business executives with an interest in coastal protection. Gov. Edwards going to Europe to tour new flood control solutions The delegation will include: Gov. John Bel Edwards First […]
Gov. Edwards going to Europe to tour new flood control solutions
Gov. John Bel Edwards will travel to Europe on Friday for a 10-day trip to examine new flood control innovations in France and the Netherlands that could be implemented in Louisiana. Edwards will travel with a delegation of state and business leaders at the invitation of Netherlands Special Envoy for International Water Affairs Henk Ovink, […]
Louisiana utility regulators blame Entergy for creating grid dependent on costly gas
With Louisiana residents receiving unprecedentedly high electricity bills, Democrats on the Louisiana Public Service Commission last week blamed Entergy Louisiana for the “mess,” saying the utility giant ignored calls to diversify its sources of fuel for power generation. The commission called Entergy Louisiana executives to discuss the issue at Wednesday’s meeting. Commission Chairman Lambert Boissiere, […]
Louisiana could sell water to other states, but at what cost?
Louisiana is receiving little to no cash for a natural resource scarce in many western states: water. For more than half a century, the state has given away much of its water to private industry and sold the rest without knowing its actual value. The issue was the focal point of a Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s […]
Offshore wind farms proposed off Louisiana, Texas coasts could power 3 million homes
HOUSTON — The Gulf of Mexico’s first offshore wind farms will be developed off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, the Biden administration announced last week, and together they’re projected to produce enough energy to power around 3 million homes. The wind farms likely will not be up and running for years, energy analysts and […]
Homeowners insurance rate may force some families out of Colorado
DENVER – Craig Plazure and his wife, Morgan, describe themselves as two of the “lucky ones” who were able to buy a home in Colorado in August 2021. But after settling down and having two children, the family is wondering how long they’ll be able to stay in Colorado because of their rising homeowners insurance […]
Louisiana climate task force eyes hydrogen energy for federal dollars
Eyeing billions in federal infrastructure dollars, Louisiana’s Climate Initiatives Task Force is evaluating several ongoing projects including a transition to hydrogen energy and building electrical vehicle infrastructure. But the effort faces a significant obstacle to achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The task force has already begun to pick what its members […]
Texans asked twice in a week to conserve energy to protect power grid
AUSTIN, Texas – For the second time this week, the state’s power grid operator is asking Texans to turn up their thermostats to 78 degrees and to avoid using large appliances as it expects record-high demand for power amid ongoing scorching temperatures. It most recently asked for conservation from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. A […]
Louisiana does little to regulate surface water use, audit finds
The lack of a statewide management plan in Louisiana is a chief reason why so little is done to monitor how industry uses surface water from its navigable waterbodies and state-owned lakes, according to a new audit report. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor says a water management plan is needed to protect the state’s resources and […]
Louisiana’s new solar farm rules don’t apply to most existing solar farms
A new law enacted to prevent “orphan” solar energy farms in Louisiana contains a carve-out that exempts most of the current solar farm projects in the state. House Bill 655, sponsored by Rep. Jean-Paul Coussan, R-Lafyatette, establishes decommissioning regulations for utility-scale solar projects, requiring companies to pay permitting fees and purchase a bond payable to […]