Air Products has halted its Louisiana Clean Energy Complex, a carbon capture project that included a plant in Ascension Parish and an injection well under Lake Maurepas. The decision has drawn sharply different reactions from local leaders. Livingston Parish President Randy Delatte welcomed the news, citing resident concerns about the ecosystem and drinking water. Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment called it a tough day, pointing to the loss of thousands of jobs and billions in investment. The project, launched in 2021, faced sustained opposition from residents worried about injecting CO2 beneath the lake. Louisiana Economic Development had projected 170 direct jobs with an average salary of $93,000 plus 413 indirect jobs. The split between the two parishes highlights a recurring tension in carbon capture deployment: local environmental risk versus promised economic benefits. The outcome may influence how other communities approach similar projects.
