Southwest Louisiana: Carbon Capture Future
Southwest Louisiana, known for its rich biodiversity and vibrant communities, has also become a pioneer in carbon capture and sequestration projects.
The concept of carbon capture and sequestration might seem complex, but its goal is simple: to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes and prevent them from entering the atmosphere.
Project Cypress, which would be constructed on land located the western section of Calcasieu Parish, is one of the nation’s first regional direct air capture hubs to garner federal dollars. The United States Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) awarded Project Cypress $50 million for its initial phase of development.
“This first tranche of funding is for activities that are expected to take two to three years and include planning, design, and community and labor engagement,” states a OCED press release.

The Project Cypress team includes: Battelle (the world’s largest, independent, nonprofit applied science and technology organization), Climeworks (an international carbon dioxide removal as a service via Direct Air Capture), and Heirloom (U.S. based company that builds low—cost Direct Air Capture technology).
What makes the area — comprising of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis parishes—a prime carbon capture location…all its natural and industrial assets!
According to the Clean Air Task Force: “Louisiana hosts a high density of industrial facilities, unique geologic formations, and existing pipeline networks that have attracted surging commercial interest and investment in CCS technologies. Louisiana’s deep subsurface geology is comprised of thick packages of sandstones that have excellent porosity and permeability and are overlain by thousands of feet of rock, making them ideal targets for storing commercial volumes of CO2. Since 2018, 22 commercial carbon capture and carbon storage projects have been announced in Louisiana, spanning a wide range of industrial sectors.”
Currently 43 proposed carbon capture projects have been announced in Louisiana. A total of 14 of those projects could be based in the five-parish area.
Southwest Louisiana is already a leader in LNG export and petro/chemical production. The new carbon capture technologies will make it the nation’s leader in: air pollution reduction, emissions reduction, and job growth.
Southwest Louisiana stands as a shining example of how environmental conservation and economic development can go hand in hand. By leveraging its natural resources, embracing technological innovation, and fostering community collaboration, the region is preparing to reduce its carbon footprint while setting a precedent for sustainable development worldwide.
Southwest Louisiana’s commitment to carbon sequestration serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for regions everywhere striving to protect our planet for future generations.
Visit www.allianceswla.org for more information.