Louisiana
Mitsubishi’s planned $1.3bn chemical plant in Louisiana doesn’t work economically or environmentally, energy group says
$1.3 billion chemical production facility to be built in Louisiana by Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi is economically questionable and unnecessarily increases greenhouse gas emissions, according to an energy think tank report released Monday.
The proposed Mitsubishi plant is “the wrong project, at the wrong place and time, with the wrong financial scenario,” said the report from the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, or IEEFA, an Ohio-based nonprofit.
Mitsubishi Chemical Group would be capable of annually producing 350,000 tons of methyl methacrylate, or MMA, a chemical component found in cement, adhesives, textiles and plastics.
The facility would also be among the state’s top 50 greenhouse gas emitters, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency. And it is being constructed in Ascension Parish, along a stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans known as “ cancer alley ” for its heavy industrial pollution.
The facility would release more than 780,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually even though an alternative production process less reliant on fossil fuels exists, the IEEFA report notes.
Mitsubishi stated in 2022 that its proposed facility in Louisiana “achieves the lowest possible carbon footprint for MMA production.” The proposed facility’s natural gas-based production process is also intended to help the industry shift away from the dominant method of cyanide-based production.
But IEEFA said Mitsubishi does not need to choose between cyanide or natural gas for the chemical component’s production since there is another option: An alternative biofuel-based technology has become viable and is already being adopted elsewhere by Mitsubishi and its competitors.
The market conditions and economic viability of the facility have also worsened, IEEFA reports. Compared to when Mitsubishi began planning this facility in 2014, construction costs have increased, prices for the chemical component have flatlined and growth forecasts have reduced.
The global market for methyl methacrylate will be oversaturated by the time the plant is expected to begin operating in 2028, said Tom Sanzillo, director of financial analysis for IEEFA and former deputy comptroller for New York.
The analysis estimates that U.S.-based producers will increase the amount of methyl methacrylate they are capable of producing to more than 1.2 million tons, while only needing to produce two-thirds of that amount.
“The U.S. market is not expected to expand beyond its historical norms,” the report states.
IEEFA notes that the Mitsubishi plant would be unlikely to find an outlet for its methyl methacrylate in China, the largest consumer and producer of the chemical component. Earlier this year, Mitsubishi shut down a methyl methacrylate plant in Hiroshima, citing oversupply from China.
Both Europe and the Middle East also face market uncertainties given the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, according to the report.
Mitsubishi Chemical Group representative Eri Nishumata declined an interview request on behalf of the company, stating that “the final investment decision has not yet been made.” Mitsubishi did not respond to a request for comment on IEEFA’s analysis.
Mitsubishi received an estimated tax exemption from the state of Louisiana for $17 million for its first year of operation, but multiple delays in beginning construction have pushed the start date back. Sanzillo said he believes the company is waiting to see if the market conditions improve before proceeding.
“The company is now using the government as a speculative tool,” he said. “And you’re not supposed to do that with subsidies, you’re supposed to go forward with them.”
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality stated in a February public notice that the Mitsubishi plant is not expected to have “a significant adverse impact on soil, vegetation, visibility or air quality in the area of the facility.”
Environmental groups point out that the hundreds of tons of pollutants the facility would emit are linked to harmful health impacts, including respiratory infection, lung cancer and strokes. A February public hearing for the facility’s pending air permit saw vocal opposition from some community members, while others praised the expected jobs and hope of economic benefits.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and Ascension Parish authorities could not be reached for comment.
While the Mitsubishi plant plans to directly employ 125 people, Ascension Parish resident Ashley Gaignard is skeptical that the facility will help her community or the environment.
“Bringing more industries into the community is a false solution,” said Gaignard, 47, who founded the environmental justice nonprofit Rural Roots. “Industry is the wheel that keeps Louisiana burning. And that’s the real truth about it.”
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is now accepting applications for the Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman (B-BOW) Deer Hunt, scheduled for Jan. 9–11, 2026, at Floy McElroy Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
This hunt is for novice deer hunters only who have attended a previous Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshop, and is designed to provide hands-on learning and real-world experience in a supportive environment.
The lottery application will remain open through Nov. 30, 2025. The drawing will be held on Dec. 1, 2025, and successful applicants will be notified by email.
To apply, visit:
https://louisianaoutdoors.com/lottery-applications
Eligibility Requirements
The Beyond BOW Deer Hunt is intended for individuals new to deer hunting. To qualify, applicants must:
- Have attended a previous Becoming an Outdoors Woman Workshop
- Be a novice deer hunter, defined as someone who has harvested no more than two deer or other big game animals (elk, antelope, bear, moose, etc.) in their lifetime
- Not have previously attended a Louisiana BBOW deer hunt or harvested a deer during that event
- Be Hunter Education certified
About Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman (B-BOW)
LDWF’s Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman program builds upon the foundation of the traditional Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) workshops. These advanced, hands-on experiences allow participants to apply and strengthen skills learned during BOW weekends, while receiving guidance from supportive instructors in real-world outdoor settings.
Beyond BOW workshops are ideal for women who:
- Want to gain more confidence and independence in outdoor skills
- Are seeking new outdoor challenges and experiences
- Have completed a BOW workshop and are ready for the next step
- Enjoy learning alongside like-minded outdoor enthusiasts
Workshops are kept intentionally small to provide a safe, educational, and encouraging environment that emphasizes personal growth, safety, and skill development.
Applicable fees will be assessed when applying for the lottery.
To learn more or to apply, visit:
https://louisianaoutdoors.com/lottery-applications
Contact:
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Becoming an Outdoors Woman Program
Email: BOW@wlf.la.gov
Website: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/beyond-bow
About Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation’s 2025 Conservation Raffle:
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation (LAWFF), in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), is hosting its inaugural raffle. Supporting ongoing LDWF conservation efforts, the raffle offers outdoor enthusiasts and conservation supporters of Louisiana the chance to win a brand-new Chevy Silverado from your Super Chevy Dealers, valued at $60,000.
Proceeds directly benefit programs led by LDWF, including habitat restoration, wildlife and fisheries research, public access enhancements, and education initiatives.
To purchase your ticket, visit: https://www.lawff.org/la-conservation-raffle.
Open to legal residents of the U.S. who are 18 years of age or older. Void where prohibited. Contest ends 1/8/26. Click here to view the official rules page.
Louisiana
Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds, Prediction, Pick
Week 9 of the college football season kicks off on Tuesday night with a Conference USA battle between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
The Hilltoppers come into Tuesday looking to get back in the win column after losing 25-6 to FIU last week. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak and dropped them to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in CUSA.
The Bulldogs are also looking to bounce back from a loss after they fell to Kennessaw State 35-7 two weeks ago. The loss was their first in the CUSA and dropped them to 4-2 overall.
Stream Louisiana Tech vs. Western Kentucky
If you’re looking to get back in the swing of football season and need some betting advice for Tuesday’s matchup in Rustin, we’ve got you covered. Here are the latest odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM.
Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky game odds:
All college football odds via BetMGM
- Spread: Louisiana Tech -3.5 (-115), Western Kentucky +3.5 (-1105)
- Money Line: Louisiana Tech NL, Western Kentucky NL
- Over-Under: Over 50.5 (-110), Under 50.5 (-110)
Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky prediction, pick:
Both of these teams were stymied in their last game and are desperate for a win on Tuesday night. They both are hoping to stay near the top of the conference, but a loss would likely drop them out of the hunt. Maverick McIvor has been good at quarterback for the Hilltoppers this year and he could be the x-factor. He did throw three interceptions in this last game, but he bounces back and gives Western Kentucky a huge road win.
Prediction: Western Kentucky 31, Louisiana 23
Best Bet: Western Kentucky +3.5, Over 50.5
Louisiana Tech vs Western Kentucky channel, start time, streaming:
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: CBS Sports Network
Live Stream: Paramount+
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.
The transformation of a 200-year-old cottage into a museum, a project to put a performance pavilion in a public park and the renovation of a Romanesque university hall were all recognized recently by the Louisiana chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
The 2025 AIA LA Design Awards were presented at the annual AIA Louisiana Conference of Architecture in Lake Charles.
Judges selected six Merit Awards, two Honor Awards and one Members’ Choice Award out of 62 entries reviewed by a jury of nationally recognized architects.
Winners included five firms based in New Orleans, one based in Baton Rouge and from Lafayette. A pair of New Orleans-based architects also came away with individual awards.
- RHH Architecture, of Baton Rouge, won the Members’ Choice Award for The Retreat at Quarters Lake, a grief and bereavement care facility arranged in a a protective configuration. Anchored by a butterfly garden at its center, the inward-facing design and pitched roofs help deflect sound and bring natural light into a tranquil setting. The winner of the Members’ Choice Award is voted on by all of AIA Louisiana’s membership.
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