Louisiana Governor Edwards Extends Louisiana’s Energy Transition Leadership and Stimulates Economic Growth of London Economic Mission

Louisiana / London, UK — The Louisiana Office of the Governor announced on September 30, 2022, that John Bel Edwards and a delegation of state officials and business leaders met with top executives of major global companies operating in Louisiana for a daylong series of conversations about the energy transition. The debates ranged from the implications of the Russia-Ukraine war on European demand for Louisiana natural gas to the construction of offshore wind, hydrogen, biomass, and renewable fuels business clusters around the state.

Representatives from LED, the Department of Transportation and Development, the Louisiana Offshore Terminal Authority, the Port of New Orleans, the Port of South Louisiana, and Louisiana’s Committee of 100 for Economic Development accompanied the governor for the second day of economic mission discussions.

“Today’s meetings with four very important but very different energy companies illustrated just how complex and diversified the energy sector has become, and how uniquely prepared our state is to meet the challenges that presents,” Louisiana Governor Edwards said. “Again and again we heard about the high value that major global investors place on our state’s commitment to climate action and all-of-the-above approach to energy. By combining that long-range vision with abundant natural resources, logistical advantages and a skilled workforce, Louisiana can lead America’s clean energy economy for generations to come.”

Cheniere Energy, the number 1 liquefied natural gas producer in the United States, kicked off the day’s energy transition discourse by discussing LNG’s worldwide economic momentum. Cheniere executives discussed the critical role that LNG produced and exported in Louisiana plays in the global energy market, including Cheniere’s Sabine Pass Liquefaction facility, which is adding a third marine berth and is in the process of commissioning to load the world’s largest LNG vessels for export. The governor emphasized Louisiana’s logistical advantages for LNG production and export, as well as the significance of including carbon capture and sequestration in the production process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“When it comes to American liquefied natural gas, Governor Edwards and Louisiana economic development leaders clearly appreciate LNG’s vital global energy security and environmental benefits and the importance to Louisiana’s economy,” said Corey Grindal, Cheniere’s executive vice president of worldwide trading. “We appreciate the governor’s interest in the critical role that Cheniere and Louisiana play in the global energy landscape.”

The group was briefed on the company’s expanding portfolio of renewable energy projects at Shell Centre, the energy company’s worldwide headquarters in downtown London. Shell executive committee member and downstream director Huibert Vigeveno updated the governor on the company’s Louisiana investments and reaffirmed Shell’s shared commitment to energy transition leadership and innovation.

“I’m energized about Shell’s future in Louisiana, as we transform our U.S. Gulf Coast assets to meet the needs of our customers,” Vigeveno said. “Building on over 100 years in Louisiana, Shell is investing in its Norco, eismar and Convent facilities to deliver the low carbon fuels and sustainable chemicals our customers demand. I was honored to host Governor Edwards and a delegation of state and Committee of 100 representatives in London to update our progress, including plans to repurpose Shell’s Convent site (as a renewable fuels facility).”

Following a lunch discussion with Louisiana port authorities and the British Ports Association, the delegation met with David Burns, vice president for sustainable energy project development at Linde, the industrial gases production and engineering business that combined with Praxair in 2018. Linde has established itself as a market leader in the clean hydrogen business. Louisiana Governor Edwards praised the US Department of Commerce’s recent $50 million grant to H2theFuture, a broad coalition of 25 partners seeking to develop a sustainable hydrogen energy cluster in south Louisiana.

“We appreciate the opportunity to speak with the governor and his team to reinforce the important role that Louisiana can play in the energy transition,” Burns said. “Linde’s technology can help customers reduce emissions, and we will support the state of Louisiana’s efforts to meet its ambitious climate targets. The chemical and energy sectors are already heavily invested in the state, and we see the support for clean energy leading to the need for significantly more.”

The delegation also met with the leadership of Drax, a bioenergy company with wood pellet production facilities in Louisiana that supports renewable power generation for UK homes and companies, as well as consumers in Europe and Asia.

“Governor Edwards and the state of Louisiana are taking a lead role in providing a business-friendly environment for clean energy investments in bioenergy that will help deliver climate change solutions,” Drax Group CEO Will Gardiner said. “Louisiana is already supporting renewable energy and energy security through the state’s natural resources and sustainably managed forests, which supply the material we use to produce wood pellets. We’re also exploring options to deploy bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) as part of our ambition to be a world leader in this critical carbon removal technology.”

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards will meet with Louisiana press reporters in London on Saturday to discuss the New Orleans Saints’ NFL International Series game versus the Minnesota Vikings. Before traveling to Louisiana later Monday, he will meet with business leaders and British dignitaries at Tottenham Stadium.