St Rose Residents Rally Against New Plant Amid Environmental Justice Concerns

In late April, a group of local residents and grassroots organizers gathered in a church parking lot in St Rose, Louisiana, to discuss the latest environmental threat to their predominantly Black community. St Rose, located in the region known as “Cancer Alley,” is surrounded by fossil fuel and petrochemical facilities, and now faces the prospect of a new “blue” ammonia and “clean” hydrogen plant.

Kimbrelle Eugene Kyereh, a seasoned campaigner, informed residents about this new facility, which its operators claim will benefit from taxpayer subsidies and tax credits aimed at addressing climate change.

The proposed plant by St Charles Clean Fuels (SCCF) plans to produce ammonia by extracting hydrogen from fossil gas and nitrogen from the air. It claims to make the ammonia “blue” by capturing and storing the resultant CO2 emissions underground.

The facility’s ammonia would be used for fertilizer and “blue” hydrogen, marketed as a clean fuel. However, scientists criticize the claims, pointing out that the process still relies heavily on fossil fuels, which emit CO2 and methane, thus not truly mitigating climate change.

Residents like Randy Moses oppose the facility, fearing its potential for pollution and health risks. Ammonia production can release pollutants like nitrogen oxide and particulate matter, worsening the already poor air quality in Cancer Alley.

Additionally, CO2, if leaked, can displace oxygen, posing severe health risks. While some residents hoped the project would bring jobs, others, particularly those with health issues, were anxious about the further decline in air quality.

The SCCF project is one of many carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives in the U.S., encouraged by federal tax credits and legislation. However, experts argue that CCS is a costly and inefficient solution that prolongs fossil fuel use rather than reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

CCS technology has a history of underperformance, and most captured carbon is used for extracting more oil, furthering fossil fuel dependence.

Louisiana, a major focus of the CCS boom, is home to numerous proposed projects, which critics say will increase pollution in an already heavily polluted region. The state’s legislature, heavily influenced by the fossil fuel industry, has been resistant to stringent CCS regulations. Recent laws have even reduced regulatory oversight, making CCS projects less safe and more environmentally risky.

The Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR), now responsible for regulating CO2 injection wells, has been criticized for its poor enforcement of existing environmental protections. The state’s political climate, with bipartisan support for the fossil fuel industry, exacerbates these issues.

Environmental groups argue that the CCS expansion, supported by both Democratic and Republican leaders, primarily benefits the industry at the expense of community health and safety.

St Rose, founded by formerly enslaved families, exemplifies the historical and ongoing environmental injustice in Cancer Alley. The SCCF plant would be located on land with high respiratory disease risks due to pollution. Despite federal and state support for CCS, local residents and environmental advocates fear the technology will worsen racial and environmental inequalities.

The proposed projects threaten not only communities like St Rose but also protected natural areas such as Lake Maurepas, where another CCS project aims to store CO2. Critics argue that Louisiana’s geological conditions and abandoned wells make it unsuitable for safe CO2 storage, raising risks of leaks and further environmental damage.

Environmentalists and some local lawmakers are fighting to protect these areas, but face significant opposition from industry-backed political forces.

Despite community efforts to oppose the projects, the political and economic power of the fossil fuel industry makes it challenging to halt CCS developments.

Activists like Kyereh and groups such as the Lake Maurepas Preservation Society continue to raise awareness and rally support against these initiatives. However, without broader political and public backing, the expansion of CCS and its associated risks seem likely to continue, further entrenching Louisiana’s status as a petrostate.