Louisiana Economic Development leaders say carbon capture is now one of the biggest factors driving major business investments across the state. During an interview on “Mornings with Brian Haldane,” Chief Business Development Officer Paige Carter said carbon capture, utilization and storage, known as CCUS, comes up in nearly every major economic development conversation.
Carter said many companies looking at Louisiana are focused on exporting products to Europe and Asia. Those global markets now place heavy importance on low-carbon production and emissions reduction. Because of that, she said CCUS often becomes a key part of the decision-making process for companies considering Louisiana projects.
According to Carter, about 80% of the projects Louisiana Economic Development currently works on involve a CCUS component. She said more than $50 billion in announced projects since 2022 require carbon capture infrastructure before companies make final investment decisions.
Carter also highlighted Louisiana’s experience with carbon storage and sequestration. She said the state already has decades of expertise through oil and gas operations and enhanced oil recovery projects. While the “utilization” side of CCUS continues to develop, Louisiana already has strong infrastructure and research capabilities tied to storage.
She praised partnerships between Louisiana universities, energy companies and industry groups. Carter pointed to LSU and the Future Use of Energy initiative as major assets for workforce development and research. She also credited ExxonMobil for investing heavily in low-carbon solutions, workforce scholarships and safety training programs across Louisiana.
Carter said those partnerships help position Louisiana as a global leader in the future of energy while supporting long-term economic growth and jobs across the state.