Louisiana oil and gas industry leaders say they are working collaboratively with Gov. John Bel Edwards to reduce emissions and protect the Louisian coast.
Tyler Gray, president and general counsel of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association (LMOGA), expressed his support for the governor’s newly formed Climate Initiatives Task Force in an interview with the Louisiana Record.
“We are tackling our climate challenges head on,” Gray said.
He sees the emerging carbon capture industry as holding a lot of promise for the state.
“The oil and natural gas industry is making significant investments to promote carbon capture. We want to reduce emissions to the lowest levels in a generation,” Gray said.
Edwards announced on Feb. 20 that his administration will undertake an expansion of coastal restoration and flood protection efforts. He said the task force will come up with the next steps for Louisiana to take.
In the announcement, Edwards said the carbon reduction efforts would be as industry-friendly as possible, the Associated Press reported.
“We are not announcing targets today, or metrics, and we are certainly not starting with a series of regulations,” the governor said.
The governor did not offer specific plans for the new effort. He said he is leaving steps for Louisiana’s path forward up to the task force.
Gray said that LMOGA members have established a committee to promote the advancement of carbon capture and underground storage technology. He said his group plans to bring carbon capture projects and technology to Louisiana. He says the new carbon capture technologies will improve air quality.
Gray said the oil and gas industry is committed to coastal restoration.
“Louisiana’s oil and gas revenues fund 34 percent of the state’s coastal restoration budget, and we look forward to continuing to be part of the solution,” he said.