Editorial by Renee’ Savant | CO₂ Chronicles
Louisiana’s Governors in a Bag: Shake It Up and You’ll Get the Same Results
Three governors — Bobby Jindal, John Bel Edwards, and Jeff Landry — each promised change. But when it comes to Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), they’ve all played the same hand.
Shake them up in a bag, and you’ll get identical results: secrecy, corporate deals, and policies that put industry profits above the people of Louisiana.
The Beginning: 2009 and the Quiet Infiltration
CCS didn’t arrive in Louisiana through open debate. It slipped in through the back door.
According to legislators from that time, small pieces of CCS-related language were tagged onto unrelated bills in 2009, a legislative sleight of hand that gave industry its first foothold.
Once those foundation laws were in place, the real push came from Washington, D.C. Federal incentives and tax credits turned Louisiana into ground zero for the CCS experiment, without citizens ever having a say.
The Federal Connection: Bill Cassidy and the Great Betrayal
Senator Bill Cassidy stands as one of the loudest voices behind Louisiana’s CCS surge. While promoting it as an “innovation,” Cassidy helped funnel billions in 45Q tax credits to oil and gas corporations already raking in record profits.
This wasn’t leadership, it was betrayal. And it set the stage for every Louisiana governor that followed to double down on CCS without fear of political backlash.
The Revolving Door: Legislators to Lobbyists
As laws evolved, so did the players.
Many former Louisiana legislators traded in their state badges for lobbying contracts, working behind the scenes for the same corporations they once regulated.
The groundwork for CCS wasn’t being laid; it was already paved. And the money trail explains why: oil and gas PACs have paid handsomely to ensure the state’s most influential voices stay loyal.
The Silence of Our Current Legislators
Even now, as CO₂ pipelines and Class VI injection wells inch closer to our communities, citizens hear nothing from their representatives.
They claim, “The companies haven’t told us anything.” But every legislator has access to the data. They know who’s coming, where, and when.
Their silence isn’t ignorance — it’s allegiance.
“You can’t serve two masters — the public and industry — and claim to be working for the people.”
— Renee’ Savant, CO₂ Chronicles
Follow the Money
Records show that many legislators in the hardest-hit districts are the highest recipients of oil and gas PAC donations.
Those who chair committees or sponsor CCS-friendly bills receive the biggest checks — and the least scrutiny.
It’s a pay-to-play system, and Louisiana citizens are paying the price.
Where Do We Go From Here?
It’s time to demand accountability.
Your legislator has the answers — so ask the questions:
- What pipelines are planned for my district?
- Which companies are building them?
- Are any CO₂ injection wells approved or pending?
- Who approved them, and when?
If your representative can’t answer, ask why. And if they won’t answer, ask who they’re protecting.
Final Word
Three governors. Sixteen years. One unbroken chain of corruption and complicity.
The citizens of Louisiana have been kept in the dark while industry writes the script.
If there’s nothing to hide, there should be no reason to hide behind LSU’s Dr. Upton, lobbyists, or corporate mouthpieces.
It’s time to turn on the lights — and face the truth.
Call. Ask. Demand answers.
Because our land, water, and future are not negotiable.
