Back

Director's Picks

Oil-friendly Louisiana now has the power to approve carbon capture projects

Summary

The article discusses the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to hand over permitting duties, known as "primacy," for carbon capture projects to Louisiana regulators. Both Republicans and Democrats in Louisiana, traditionally oil-friendly, see this move as a significant economic milestone. The state, the third-poorest in the U.S., holds the highest number of pending applications for carbon dioxide injection wells. While proponents view it as a boost for the economy, environmentalists and locals express concerns about the potential health risks, especially in already overburdened communities. Critics argue that Louisiana lacks the expertise to regulate carbon dioxide wells and point to the state's history of lax oversight of oil and gas companies. The article raises questions about the long-term sustainability of jobs created and highlights worries about potential health hazards for communities in proximity to carbon storage sites.

discover more

February 28, 2025
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism

Yale Climate Connections’ bookshelf for February begins with a title that beautifully captures the mission of climate activism during Black History Month

March 12, 2025
Environment & Climate Legislation
Environment & Climate Legislation

Following President Donald Trump’s day-one Executive Orders, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced 31 actions to deregulate the agency.

March 11, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

According to the National Resources Defense Council, states on the East and West coasts are doing a better job than the rest of the country in cutting emissions...

March 10, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

The U.S. Treasury Department has formally pulled out of the International Climate Loss and Damage Fund.

March 10, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

Space is becoming more littered. That’s the headline coming from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

March 10, 2025
Environment & Climate Legislation
Environment & Climate Legislation

Two members of Congress are working together to end a popular tax incentive. Reps. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) announced efforts to repeal 45Q.

March 10, 2025
Climate Change
Climate Change

Women and girls are more likely to suffer the health consequences of environmental issues like floods, droughts, and air pollution, but they are largely underrepresented...

March 9, 2025
Civil Rights & Human Rights
Civil Rights & Human Rights

March 7th marked the 60th anniversary of the infamous civil rights march that would later be named “Bloody Sunday”.

March 7, 2025
Education
Education

As President Donald Trump prepares to order the dismantling of the Department of Education, the financial arm of the agency – which makes loans directly to borrowers...

March 7, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recalled dozens of environmental justice staffers who were previously placed on administrative leave under the Trump...

March 7, 2025
Environmental
Environmental

The Trump administration has dismantled the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) authority over the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)...

March 6, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

A recent cancer rate assessment has identified a 250-square-mile area along the San Jacinto River in Texas, including the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site...

March 5, 2025
Environment & Climate Legislation
Environment & Climate Legislation

Rising energy demand, fueled by artificial intelligence, data centers, and electrification, has intensified debates over the future of U.S. energy policy.

March 5, 2025
Environment & Climate Legislation
Environment & Climate Legislation

The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a case that could establish the country’s first independent nuclear waste storage facility in West Texas, despite strong opposition from state

March 5, 2025
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The U.S. State Department has ended its global air quality monitoring program, which used sensors at over 80 embassies and consulates to track pollution levels in countries...