Allen Parish in Louisiana has outlined a proposed community benefits agreement tied to Oxy's Magnolia carbon capture and sequestration hub near Oberlin. The deal would require Oxy to pay $1.25 per ton of injected CO2 into a community fund, potentially generating $9.4 million annually once the facility reaches full capacity. An additional 19 cents per ton would go to an emergency response fund capped at $5 million. The agreement also includes protections against eminent domain, water monitoring, and first responder training. Local officials say without a negotiated deal, the parish would receive no direct financial benefit if the state permits the project. Residents raised concerns about pipeline safety, groundwater protection, and whether the compensation is adequate. Some called the situation extortion, arguing companies are using state permitting authority to pressure the parish. Negotiations are ongoing and no final agreement has been reached.
