Louisiana
Louisiana looks to Idaho National Laboratory for a nuclear strategy – East Idaho News
IDAHO FALLS – Louisiana leaders are working with Idaho National Laboratory’s Frontiers Initiative to help the state — known for its hydrocarbon and chemical industries — become a national leader in advanced nuclear energy. INL experts will help the state develop a strategic plan to use nuclear energy to power its manufacturing sector and support growing grid-scale electrical demands.
Louisiana is well positioned for advanced nuclear technologies. Chemical and petroleum production is at the core of Louisiana’s manufacturing industry. Louisiana supplies 6.5 gigawatts for onsite industrial heat and power generation, and that industrial energy demand is growing.
“That’s why Louisiana and advanced nuclear will partner in the future,” said Steven Aumeier, senior advisor of strategic programs at INL. “It’s inevitable. It’s smart.”
Louisiana also is a pro nuclear state, said Eric Skrmetta, commissioner of the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC), the agency that regulates utilities in the state.
Entergy Louisiana owns and operates two conventional reactors with approximately 2,000 megawatts of capacity in Louisiana. This spring, the utility formally notified the LPSC of its plan to take initial steps to advance new nuclear technologies in the form of nuclear batteries, microreactors and small modular reactors. This announcement followed a meeting the Frontiers Initiative organized with industry, government and LPSC in February.
The political climate also is favorable. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a strong supporter of the oil and gas industry, has signaled his support for technology that produces reliable and affordable American-made energy. Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu serves as a senior advisor and infrastructure coordinator to President Joe Biden.
Skrmetta said he recognizes the need to facilitate discussions on advanced nuclear technologies given the economic advantages of clean energy generation.
“Fifty percent of our industrials are chemical plants and there’s a demand for net-zero power,” he said. “Louisiana is in a unique position to do this.”
Paul Kjellander, a former Idaho utility commissioner and contractor for INL’s Frontiers Initiative, will lay the groundwork for Louisiana’s strategic plan.
The Frontiers Initiative worked on a similar effort with Wyoming.
In Wyoming, the initiative is working with state officials and University of Wyoming under a memorandum of understanding signed on May 4, where the lab and state agreed to collaborate on nuclear technologies, business and innovation. That collaboration resulted in the development of Wyoming Energy Authority’s advanced nuclear strategic plan. INL, through the Frontiers Initiative, continues to be engaged with Wyoming’s top industry leaders to establish market-leading positions utilizing advanced nuclear technologies.
Kjellander is borrowing from Wyoming’s advanced nuclear energy playbook, drawing on three strategic pillars — generation, value and supply chain — to focus the framework.
“INL’s Frontiers effort has helped set the table for next-mover states to begin plotting a path for advanced nuclear energy deployment,” said Kjellander. “Building from past successes will greatly assist the LPSC as it looks to craft an energy driven economic strategy that includes advanced nuclear energy. We are excited to help Louisiana as it takes strides to address the energy transition and enhance its global competitiveness.”
In June, the LPSC hosted the launch of a strategic plan development under what it calls the Louisiana Advanced Nuclear Competitive Edge. On behalf of the Frontiers Initiative, Kjellander organized panel discussions that included a diverse group of executives from key chemical and oil and gas stakeholders, regulators, manufacture electric utilities, port authority, military representatives, and university professionals.
Participants were unanimous that near-term deployment of advanced nuclear energy should be a priority. But more work is needed to answer key questions critical for planning.
“Having more fuel diversity in our energy portfolio is critical,” said Brian Hobbs, chief executive officer of 1803 Electric Cooperative. “Advanced nuclear can help provide fuel diversity and, importantly, offers sustainable, dispatchable clean energy to provide reliability and economic benefits to the state.”
Larry Hand, vice president of regulatory and public affairs for Entergy Louisiana, said consumer demand for clean energy is driving the need to be competitive. “In order to compete globally, we need clean energy,” he said. “That’s what we hear from our customers.”
“Most of our customers and investors are demanding and expecting decarbonized products,” said Luca Balbo, director of Dow Chemical’s Saint Charles operation site. “We expect many will be willing to pay for at least part of the cost increase, if any.”
There are also geopolitical factors at play.
Russia and China are building nuclear reactors at a rapid pace. China has 27 nuclear reactors under construction — over two and a half times more than any other country. Russia plans to use nuclear reactors to power Arctic ports year-around. The European Union has also adopted rules for taxing imports based on the amount of carbon dioxide that companies emit making those goods.
A key component of the Frontiers Initiative is helping states and U.S. companies win the global competition for low-emission economic activity, or as Aumeier puts it, “the new frontier of global competition.”
“National security interests will continue to grow in influence and impact policy,” said Aumeier. “Economic security is national security. It’s that simple.”
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U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and Jamie Davis, a row-crop farmer in Tensas Parish, won their party runoffs Saturday and will now face off for Bill Cassidy’s U.S. Senate seat in November.
Cassidy, one of seven Republican senators who voted to remove President Donald Trump from office after the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in 2021, came in third during the Republican primary in May.
Letlow, who received backing from both Trump and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, nearly won the primary outright with 45% of the vote. While heavily favored, Letlow lost ground in the runoff to Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming, but still won with at least 57% of the vote.
The Associated Press called the race for Letlow shortly before 9 p.m.
“President Trump, thank you for encouraging me to get into this race, thank you for your endorsement, Louisiana loves you,” Letlow said in her victory speech. The second person she thanked was Landry. Trump later congratulated Letlow on Truth Social.
Davis captured 80% of the vote in the Democratic runoff over New Orleans businessman Gary Crockett. He led in every parish.
“ I’ve always been raised and trained that if you do the work, you should reap a harvest,” Davis said in his victory speech. “I didn’t know what the harvest was going to be, but I knew that we would reap a harvest, and it just happened to be a win to go to the United States Senate.”
Like Letlow, Davis almost captured enough votes in the May 16th primary to win with 47%. His initial runoff opponent, Nick Albares, ended his campaign in late May.
History will be made regardless of the outcome in November.
Davis’ victory Saturday made him the first Black U.S. Senate finalist in Louisiana since Reconstruction.
Letlow is the first Republican woman to represent Louisiana in the U.S. House. If she wins in November, she would be the second woman elected from Louisiana to the U.S. Senate and the first Republican. Democrat Mary Landrieu served in the Senate from 1997 until 2014.
A hotly contested Republican race
The biggest issue Letlow and Fleming, conservative Republicans, appeared to differ on was carbon sequestration: the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide underground.
Fleming completely opposes projects in the state, while Letlow said she trusts Gov. Jeff Landry to decide what’s best and support his moratorium on new permits.
“If a project is not safe, not transparent, and does not have local buy-in, it should not move forward,” Letlow said.
Fleming, who is MAGA-aligned, said his campaign relied on “grassroots support” and was endorsed by eight parish-level Republican committees and four regional assemblies.
“It’s been a tough year-and-a-half campaigning, but I asked for this,” Fleming said in his concession speech. “I felt that the Lord led me this way. It didn’t turn out as we had hoped, but that’s OK.
“This is a very healthy process, what we have in Democracy, where we battle it out, tough it out and hopefully we get the best.”
Letlow’s platform
Letlow’s political career began in 2020 after her husband, Luke, who had just been elected to the U.S. House, died from complications from COVID-19.
She ran for his seat in a special election, won and later used her platform to encourage people to get vaccinated against the infectious disease.
Letlow, a mother of two who worked in higher education administration before entering politics, has become an increasingly vocal supporter of Trump and of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic.
Her campaign received more than $1 million from the MAHA PAC, a political group affiliated with Kennedy.
Letlow said her proudest legislative accomplishment is a Parents’ Bill of Rights she passed in the House in 2023, which stalled in the Senate.
“The bill gives parents greater transparency into curriculum, school budgets, and what is happening in their children’s classrooms,” Letlow said. “It puts families back in charge and protects children from political agendas that don’t belong in schools.”
She said her top three priorities, if elected to the U.S. Senate, will be border security and public safety, growing Louisiana’s economy and education, including school choice and parents’ rights.
Davis’ platform
Davis, a former Tensas Parish Police Juror, is running on a platform of affordability, healthcare, opportunity and upholding voting rights.
He said he took it personally when Gov. Jeff Landry canceled the congressional race where mail-in ballots had already been cast. The Democratic candidate also attended legislative committee hearings to oppose the 5-1 Republican-favored congressional voting map that the legislature eventually passed and the governor signed into law for use in the November election.
“A national ban on gerrymandering is one of the top things for me, because we need to get past this power grab that’s happening all over the nation. It needs to end so that America can just focus on the issues and not power grabs,” said Davis.
The third-generation farmer said he’ll work toward a new Farm Bill with crop insurance reform.
“So farmers can just have the opportunity to grow a crop, be able to sell it on an open market for a fair price and be able to make an honest living,” said Davis.
The 55-year-old grandfather said he’ll defend Medicaid, strengthen rural hospitals at risk of closing, focus on lowering prescription drug costs and protect Social Security and Medicare and the subsidies that keep premiums affordable.
He also supports a woman’s right to choose when it comes to abortion.
On immigration, Davis said he’s in favor of securing the border but also wants to give immigrants a simple path to citizenship.
Davis has the endorsements of the Louisiana Democratic Party, Congressman Troy Carter, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, former opponent Nick Albares and Indivisible groups across the state.
WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The City of West Monroe announced the 2026 Louisiana State Games are coming to West Monroe this weekend, with athletes from across the state set to compete at The Rec at 7th Square.
According to officials matches begin at 6 p.m. Saturday and continue at 1 p.m. Sunday. Spectators are invited to attend and support the boxers.
- Event location: The Rec at 7th Square on 1802 North 7th Street
- Dates: Saturday–Sunday, June 27–28
Admission details, boxer registration information, and sponsorship opportunities are available in the event graphics, here.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – It’s Election Day, and many voters are deciding on some closely watched primary run-offs, which will determine who appears on the ballot in November.
Polls are open as of 7 a.m. on June 27 and will close at 8 p.m. You will still be able to vote as long as you are in line by 8 p.m.
Election coverage
Fox 8 will bring you analysis as the numbers come in. Our election coverage starts at 9 p.m. on our streaming apps and online.
Who’s on the ballot?
Today is the Republican primary runoff between Stephanie Hilferty and John Young for Louisiana Public Service Commission District 1.
And in the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education District 1 race, Joseph Cao and Ellie Schroder are going head-to-head.
Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming and Congresswoman Julia Letlow face off for the Republican U.S Senate nomination.
This week, a JMC Analytics poll put Fleming five points higher than Letlow.
Gary Crockett and Jamie Davis are the two candidates on the U.S Senate Democratic ballot.
On May 16, Davis got 47 percent of the vote statewide in the Democratic primary. Crockett got 26 percent of the vote.
Fox 8 interviewed the Republican and Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate. You can watch those interviews below:
Voters will also decide how much they want to fund 140 St. Tammany sheriff’s deputies. Fox 8 covered this proposal extensively, and voters can learn more HERE.
New party primary rules
In June 27th’s runoff, voters must stick with the same party they selected in the May election. For example, those who voted Republican in May must vote Republican in this runoff.
However, in the November general election, all voters can select any candidate on the ballot regardless of party.
The Louisiana Secretary of State website lists requirements voters should know before heading to the polls.
What should I bring?
Be prepared to show one of the following before voting:
- a driver’s license;
- a Louisiana Special ID;
- LA Wallet digital driver’s license;
- a United States military identification card that contains your name and picture; or
- some other generally recognized picture ID that contains your name and signature.
Where do I vote?
You can use the Louisiana Voter Portal to find where you vote on election day, or you can call your parish Registrar of Voters Office. Your voter information card, which is sent by mail, lists your polling place.
Click HERE to find your voting precinct by entering personal information, such as your zip code. This method gives you the most specific information.
Can I vote by mail?
In Louisiana, only certain citizens can vote by mail, including:
- military or overseas citizens;
- senior citizens (65+);
- voters with disabilities;
- higher education students & professors;
- religious clergy;
- voters temporarily absent during early voting and election day;
- voters who moved to a new parish more than 100 miles from former residence within 30 days of election;
- persons involuntarily confined to institution;
- sequestered jurors;
- voters hospitalized or who expect to be hospitalized during early voting and election day;
- voters employed upon state waters;
- voters incarcerated for non-felony with sheriff’s certification; and
- participants in the state’s address confidentiality program.
For more information, click HERE.
What if I have a disability?
People with visual impairments and the person assisting them in voting may go to the front of the line at their polling place.
According to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website, a voter is entitled to receive assistance while voting if they are unable to read or unable to vote without assistance because of a physical disability, including being visually impaired. A voter may choose to use the audio ballot instead of receiving assistance.
However, voters must either file a statement with the registrar in person or by mail before the election if they need assistance in voting or complete an affidavit and/or provide specific documentation to the commissioner on election day.
For more information, click HERE.
Rules on advocating
According to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website, you should never wear, hand out, or display anything advocating for or against any candidate, proposition, or political party appearing on the ballot in the election while voting. All polling places have a 600 foot campaign free zone.
To see what exactly will be on your ballot, find polling locations, and more, you can go to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website HERE.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.
Copyright 2026 WVUE. All rights reserved.
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