A Closer Look at Carbon Capture: Highlights from SCIA's August Panel
Carbon capture and storage is one of the most talked about, and least understood, topics in Louisiana energy right now. That was the starting point for a panel discussion Aurora Solutions Group President and Owner Lori LeBlanc moderated at the South Central Industrial Association's August membership meeting.
SCIA represents more than 250 member companies across the Bayou Region, many of them deeply tied to oil, gas, and marine service work. CCS is a topic on a lot of their minds, and for good reason. Louisiana has become one of the most active states in the country for carbon storage projects, opening up real opportunity for the businesses positioned to serve this growing industry. That activity touches land, law, and local business in ways that aren't always easy to follow from the outside.
SCIA brought together four panelists with different vantage points on the issue:
● Bryan Hanks, President and Owner of BETA Land Services
● Will Huguet, Partner at Kean Miller
● Dr. Mark Zappi, Executive Director of the Energy Institute of Louisiana
● State Representative Jessica Domangue, District 53
What the Panel Covered
The conversation moved through three areas where SCIA members had the most questions.
The economics. The panel dug into the 45Q tax credit, the federal incentive that has driven much of the recent CCS investment in Louisiana, and what it means for the pace and scale of projects coming to the state, and the jobs and contracts that come with them.
The permitting picture. Class VI wells, the specific type of injection well used to store CO2 permanently underground, came up as a central piece of the regulatory puzzle. The panel walked through where permitting stands and what that means for projects currently in the pipeline.
The property questions. Perhaps the liveliest part of the discussion centered on eminent domain and property rights, an area where landowners, mineral owners, and service companies alike have real stakes. Getting that framework right matters for the industry to keep growing on solid footing.
Why This Conversation Matters
Dr. Zappi, who has spent decades working at the intersection of engineering and environmental research, put it simply when describing what draws him to this work: he enjoys working alongside people who have a passion for improving the world through the development of new technologies, in his case, energy systems and environmental management.
That's the spirit Lori aimed for in moderating the panel. CCS raises real questions on both sides, and it isn't going away. It's a technology moving fast, backed by billions in announced investment in Louisiana, and it's already opening up new kinds of work for companies across the region, from pipeline construction to land services to environmental monitoring.
Understanding how it works, who regulates it, and what it means for property rights isn't optional anymore for businesses operating in this space. It's part of doing business in Louisiana's energy economy, and for many companies, it's a real opportunity to grow alongside it.
Looking Ahead
Aurora Solutions Group was glad to help lead this conversation and grateful to SCIA for the opportunity. As CCS continues to develop in Louisiana, expect more of these discussions, more legislation, and more questions worth asking. We'll keep following it, and we're optimistic about what it could mean for the region.
