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Louisiana voters want federal money from offshore wind to go toward coastal restoration

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Louisiana voters want federal money from offshore wind to go toward coastal restoration


Louisiana voters approved an amendment asking them if revenues from offshore alternative energy should go towards coastal restoration and protection.

Federal money from offshore oil and gas production already goes into Louisiana’s Coastal Restoration and Protection Fund. “We’ve received hundreds of millions of dollars over the years because of that. What this amendment would do is basically the same,” Barry Erwin, president and CEO of Council for a Better Louisiana, told Louisiana Considered. 

Despite these oil and gas revenues flowing into the fund, the state doesn’t have enough money to fund its Coastal Master Plan. Amendment 1 sets up the state to receive slightly more.

The yes vote on the amendment means federal money from the emerging offshore alternative energy industry, which is primarily wind, will go into that same fund for the coast. A no vote would have put the money into the state’s general fund, which is spent how the legislature chooses.

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There are no completed wind projects off of Louisiana’s Gulf coast yet. Two were granted leases by the state last December and are underway. The Danish firm Vestas – which operates under the name Cajun Wind in Louisiana – was granted nearly 60,000 acres off of Cameron Parish. Diamond Wind, which is owned by the Japanese company Mitsubishi, was granted a little over 6,000 acres of the coast of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

The federal government doesn’t share offshore alternative energy revenues with states, but some in Louisiana’s congressional delegation have been pushing for it. Sen. Bill Cassidy co-sponsored the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems (RISEE) Act and Rep. Steve Scalise sponsored the Budgeting for Renewable Electrical Energy Zone Earnings Act (BREEZE Act), both of which would bring revenues from offshore wind to states.

But Erwin said even if revenues start coming in, it won’t be very much money. Estimates put the amount at about 10 percent of what Louisiana gets from oil and gas, which is about $160 million a year. “We’re gonna be losing a lot of the coastal money that we’re getting right now when the BP oil payments are kind of finalized in a few years,” he said. “So I think the proponents feel like every dollar that we can still muster towards coastal protection.”





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Louisiana

More Storms Monday – Severe Storms Possible by Midweek

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More Storms Monday – Severe Storms Possible by Midweek


(KMDL-FM) You might not have realized it, but you’re on a roller coaster. No, not the kind of roller coaster you look forward to riding, but the kind of roller coaster only Mother Nature can devise in the form of Louisiana’s annual up and down weather conditions, also known as spring.

READ MORE: Louisiana Parishes That Have the Most Tornadoes

Much of Louisiana was affected by strong storms with heavy rains and gusty winds during the day on Saturday and extending into Sunday morning. By later afternoon yesterday, conditions had improved, and it looked as though the work and school week would be off to a much calmer start.

Heavy Rain Possible in Louisiana To Start the Work Week

The start of the work and school day will be much calmer; however, the ride home on this first day of “extra sunlight” thanks to Daylight Saving Time will include a decent chance of showers and storms. Oh, and there are already reports of thick fog.

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So, after a foggy start this morning, you could be picking up kids from school or driving yourself home from work in a torrential downpour. And you’ll get to do all of this while you’re mentally addled from the twice-a-year time change.

Rain chances are listed at 50% for this afternoon, but they do taper off quickly after the sun goes down. The Weather Prediction Center is forecasting a slight risk of an excessive rain event for portions of Louisiana later today. The area of concern is generally along and well north of US 190.

When Is The Next Threat of Severe Storms in Louisiana?

Tuesday should be a cloudy but breezy and warm day. Then on Wednesday, the rain chances and the next threat of severe storms will move into Louisiana.

weather.gov/lch

weather.gov/lch

The Storm Prediction Center outlook for Wednesday’s severe weather potential suggests that the northern and central sections of the state might be more at risk for stronger storms than the I-10 corridor might be.

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READ MORE: Who Is Appearing at Patty in the Parc in Lafayette?

We will know more about that potential later this morning when the SPC updates its forecast. The outlook for the remainder of the week, including the Patty in the Parc Weekend event in Downtown Lafayette, looks to be spectacular.

Patty in the Parc Entertainment 2011-2025

Gallery Credit: Dave Steel

 

 

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Tech companies could receive large tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers begin construction

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Tech companies could receive large tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers begin construction


RICHLAND — Tech companies could receive significant tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers break ground in the state. 

According to a report by The Advocate, Meta officials told state officials in 2024 that they would need significant tax breaks while negotiating the $27 billion data center project currently being built in North Louisiana. 

Based on projections of Louisiana’s tax exemptions and the expected expenditures of the companies, state and local governments could potentially give billions in tax breaks to the tech giants. 

Several states, including Louisiana, have seen backlash to data centers as residents worry about potential rising electric costs and strain on water systems.

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Virginia is currently debating whether or not to repeal tax exemptions for the tech companies, as it has cost state and local governments in Virginia $1.9 billion in 2024 alone. 

The tax break exempts data centers from state and local taxes for multiple things data centers require, including servers, chillers, electric infrastructure and construction costs. 

The scale of the data center projects, which include tens of billions in spending, coupled with Louisiana’s sales tax of 10%, means tax breaks could be worth huge amounts. 



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Why tech giants could reap massive tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers break ground

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Why tech giants could reap massive tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers break ground


Gov. Jeff Landry speaks at an event Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, La., held to announce that Amazon plans to build data centers in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. He is joined by Roger Wehner, left, vice president of Economic Development for Amazon, and Matt Vanderzanden, CEO of STACK Infrastructure.



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