Louisiana Governor Advocates for Responsible Energy Development

LMOGA is pleased to hear that Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards sent a letter to President Biden in mid-May thanking his Administration for additional funding for coastal Louisiana restoration and protection projects and requesting an in-person meeting given the importance of continued leasing in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and the need to create a new 5 Year Program which includes offshore lease sales. The Governor’s and the State’s priority on achieving our common climate goals of Louisiana being a net-zero emissions state by 2050 relies on continued oil and gas production from the GOM, which is amongst the lowest, if not lowest, greenhouse gas profile in the world. Quite simply, these lowest carbon-intensive barrels are essential to our state and nation’s energy transition.

Now, with the Inflation Reduction Act kickstarting the stalled leasing program and tying the ability to hold offshore wind sales to the prerequisite of continued OCS oil and gas leasing, it is even more critical to ensure a robust 5-year plan. This will help secure many prosperous years ahead as the Gulf of Mexico hosts both traditional and renewable energy, supporting strong revenue and jobs for Louisiana into the middle of the century.

The Governor and his staff are therefore renewing and emphasizing the need for a meeting, and LMOGA is hopeful that the Biden Administration will prioritize this engagement because of its importance to America’s secure energy transition. More recently, given the Biden Administration’s pleas to help lower gasoline prices, the Governor’s office has relayed the importance of discussing both leasing and refining capacity in person, given their importance to the State and the Country.

We appreciate Governor Edwards’ ongoing advocacy on behalf of the people of Louisiana for reasonable and responsible domestic oil and gas development while taking concrete steps to continue significantly reducing carbon emissions on a path to a net zero future economy.