Gulf Coast
Tax incentives start rush for carbon capture projects
Subsidies to capture and inject carbon underground doubled through last year’s federal Inflation Reduction Act. What happens when that money goes away?
Gulf Coast
Floodlight — with partners at WWNO, the Lens, and the Louisiana Illuminator — is reporting on greenwashing, misinformation and the lack of corporate accountability in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast.
Gulf Coast
Thousands of pounds of 'forever chemicals' have been injected into Texas oil and gas wells, study finds
A new report from a public health watchdog found that more than 40,000 pounds of PFAS has been injected into more than 1,000 wells across Texas — and warned that the chemicals could pose a risk to public health.
Gulf Coast
‘Sacrifice zone’: Gulf Coast helps meet global natural gas needs, but at what cost?
A string of new LNG plants threatens fragile coastal communities and delays a response to the worldwide climate crisis.
Gulf Coast
Bill would end eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines
A Louisiana legislator wants to help keep landowners from losing their property to pipelines needed for the dozens of carbon capture projects proposed around the state.
Gulf Coast
New state utility regulator wants to reduce rates, introduce renewable mandates
Davante Lewis intends to use the momentum to take on utility giants such as Entergy and move the state toward more renewable energy in his first six-year term on Louisiana’s Public Service Commission.
Gulf Coast
Major US railroad merger could bring more tar sands to southeast Texas
A major merger could create the first direct route from Canadian tar sands mines to the Gulf Coast, while another proposed route would ship more of the polluting fuel from Utah.
Gulf Coast
LNG export terminals pose a growing and invisible threat: air pollution
Residents around existing LNG facilities in Louisiana already notice the smell and irritants from nearby terminals. With more under construction, air quality is poised to worsen.
Gulf Coast
As fracking increases in the Barnett Shale, Arlington city leaders avoid scrutiny
With demand for natural gas surging during the Russia-Ukraine war, Texans say their homes are on the frontlines of new drilling.
Gulf Coast
How ocean wind power could help the oil industry
The government wants to lease offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico – but the oil industry wants it for its own needs.
Gulf Coast
Port Arthur pollution fight shows how Texas blocks citizen protests
A local activist went before a judge, arguing for lower pollution limits on two new liquified natural gas facilities. The judge sided with him, but the state environmental agency sided with the companies.
Gulf Coast
The nonprofits cleaning up the oil and gas industry’s ‘dirty little secret’
These organizations are tackling the vast problem of orphaned wells.
Gulf Coast
The cost to capture carbon? More water and electricity
Cleco wants to capture its climate emissions, raising concerns about impacts on the state’s water supplies.
Gulf Coast
Abandoned 'dry hole' oil wells are polluting Texas farms, ranches and groundwater. The state won’t fix them.
Wildcatters drilled thousands of wells looking for oil and abandoned the dry holes. Some are spewing contaminated water.
Gulf Coast
Losing ground: How one New Orleans community is sinking
While land is subsiding throughout the city, industry water use has exacerbated the problem in one predominantly Black and Vietnamese area.
Gulf Coast
What hinders Louisiana’s shift toward renewable energy? Voters say their congressional leaders
Despite generally liking renewable energy, the majority of Louisiana voters oppose efforts to shift the state away from oil and gas.
Gulf Coast
Industrial water use threatens Louisiana capital’s drinking water
Unchecked water use by companies like Exxon risks saltwater intrusion and undrinkable tap water.