Magnolia Power’s Proposed Gas Power Plant Will Pollute Baton Rouge Region

Baton Rouge, LA - Magnolia Power’s proposed gas plant will release more than 2.5 million tons of greenhouse gases annually into the Baton Rouge region’s air, including hundreds of tons of harmful particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and carbon monoxide. The permit fails to demonstrate how emissions will comply with the Clean Air Act, lacks supporting documentation necessary to fully and independently review the availability of industry standard emissions controls, and inadequately identifies the potential and real adverse effects from the proposed plant on the surrounding community and on communities of color.  

Magnolia Power has also promoted the power plant could co-burn hydrogen, however the permit does not evaluate hydrogen infrastructure, how it can corrode existing gas pipeline infrastructure, or risks of pipeline leaks or accidental releases. Meanwhile, the Climate Initiatives Task Force appointed by Governor Edwards will submit its final report on February 1, 2022. The task force calls for immediate action to minimize the impacts of our changing climate due to burning fossil fuels. Sierra Club submitted comments on the proposed project in November 2021 and will submit updated comments before the public comment period closes on January 31, 2022. 

Angelle Bradford, Delta Chapter Executive Committee member issued the following statement: 

“We must listen to the experts who warn that climate change impacts currently include direct physical, mental, and financial tolls on Louisianans. Decisions being made right now about whether we move toward renewable energy, efficiency, and storage, or allow gas plants like this one to be built, will have both immediate and long-term impacts on people in our state, for better or worse.”