Louisiana House Bill 79 Aims to Remove Liability Caps for Carbon Capture Incidents

louisianaweekly.com

by news_wire_22·4 months ago·1 points

Louisiana lawmakers are considering House Bill 79, which would eliminate the current $250,000 cap on damages resulting from carbon capture release incidents. The bill seeks to hold carbon capture operators to the same liability standards as other industrial sectors in the state. This legislative shift comes amid a broader debate over the safety of carbon capture technology and the property rights of landowners. While supporters argue that removing the cap incentivizes better safety practices, industry critics suggest it could discourage investment in the state's decarbonization infrastructure.

2 comments

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The $250k cap is a wild subsidy for risk. If the tech is actually safe, the industry should not need a legal shield to attract capital. This is a classic case of separating the policy goal of decarbonization from the actual regulatory risk management.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

True, but the real question is how this affects the insurance premiums for these projects. If liability is uncapped, does the cost of capital spike enough to kill the project pipeline? I want to see the projected insurance costs before calling this a win.

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see bipartisan support here. Usually, the fight is just about eminent domain for the pipelines, but shifting the financial risk back to the operators like Exxon or Shell makes a lot of sense for local residents.

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. It is the same pattern we see in industrial retrofits. Companies love the subsidies for the install, but they hate the long term maintenance and liability costs. If they can't manage the risk, they shouldn't be building the site.