Louisiana to vote on constitutional amendment that could direct new funds to coastal protection
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Louisiana voters will give a thumbs up or thumbs down to a constitutional amendment that could mean more funding for coastal protection when they head to the polls for the Nov. 5 election.
Why it matters: The amendment would direct federal revenue from some renewable energy production into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to pay for projects like marsh creation, sediment diversion, levee building and barrier island restoration.
Catch up quick: Louisiana lawmakers formed the CPRA in late 2005 after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, combining existing efforts into a single government authority to direct and manage protection and restoration efforts for the state's coastline.
- Since then, it's primarily been funded through BP oil spill fines, as well as by a cut of oil and gas revenues as required by a 2006 federal law, according to PAR Louisiana.
- Over the summer, CPRA greenlit a record $1.71 billion plan, but BP funds are expected to disappear completely by 2032 and more money will be needed to pay for the plan's projects, according to The Times-Picayune's Mark Schleifstein.
The fine print: If approved, the constitutional amendment would direct federal revenue the state earns from offshore alternative and renewable energy production toward CPRA.
- If it's not approved, these funds would continue going into the state's general fund, with a small portion also going to the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources, PAR Louisiana says.
State of play: Renewable energy production is expected to grow in Louisiana, and revenues would naturally increase alongside that.
- Two companies signed leases in 2023 to build wind farms off the coasts of Cameron and Lafourche parishes, The Times-Picayune reports.
What you'll see on the ballot: "Do you support an amendment to require that federal revenues received by the state generated from Outer Continental Shelf alternative or renewable energy production be deposited into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund?"
Go deeper: Louisiana voter guide to Nov. 5 election