BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana legislators this week rejected a proposal that would have allowed parish residents to vote on whether carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects could be permitted in their own communities. House Bill 4, introduced by Rep. Chuck Owen (R-Rosepine), was struck down by lawmakers who feared the bill might accidentally legitimize the idea that voters should have a say in environmental decisions affecting their health, land, and water supply.
“Giving people the ability to vote on what’s buried under their property? That’s a slippery slope,” said one lawmaker who requested anonymity but wore a Chevron polo during the hearing. “Today it’s carbon wells. Tomorrow, they’ll want input on tax policy or school funding.”
Industry representatives praised the committee’s decision, calling it a win for “streamlined permitting” and “reliable campaign contributions.” Meanwhile, local residents were reminded they can still submit public comments through the official state portal, which sources confirm is loosely monitored by an unpaid intern with a spam filter set to “high.”
When pressed about public concerns, one official responded, “We heard the people loud and clear—and we chose not to let that affect anything.”
The carbon, like the complaints, will be safely buried and permanently ignored.
