• By AMY WOLD
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jun 27, 2009 - Page: 4A

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Louisiana likely won’t have far to go in meeting possible new federal legislation aimed at limiting the amount of “greenhouse gas” released into the atmosphere, an energy studies expert said.

Although the data is still being checked and a final report isn’t due out until later this year, preliminary numbers show Louisiana’s emissions have remained fairly stable over time, said Mike McDaniel, professional in residence at the Center for Energy Studies at LSU.

“Louisiana is actually pretty well situated for federal greenhouse gas legislation,” McDaniel said. “We haven’t increased. We’re pretty flat since 1990.”

In 1990, carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion amounted to 180.1 million metric tons in Louisiana. By 2005, that number stood at 183.1 million metric tons, according to information from the Energy Information Administration, he said.

Although those numbers apply only to fossil fuel combustion, they amount to 85 to 90 percent of all emissions, he said.

There could be several reasons for the state’s relatively unchanging emission production, among them the fact that industries are getting more energy efficient and because Louisiana’s population and economy remain fairly stable.

McDaniel and others at the center are preparing a “greenhouse gas inventory” as part of a multi-report project examining the state’s position in regard to greenhouse gas emissions, how potential federal laws could affect the state, what other states are doing and potential actions Louisiana might want to take.

“We have a lot of facilities, obviously, in the chemical industry that would be impacted,” said Henry Graham, director of environmental and legal affairs for the Louisiana Chemical Association.

Graham is one of 12 members of a project advisory team for the project, serving along with representatives from the  utilities industry, Louisiana Economic Development, The Nature Conservancy, oil and gas industry, forestry and state Department of Environmental Quality.

“The ultimate discussion will be what will be the economic impact” of greenhouse gas legislation, Graham said.

With support from Louisiana Economic Development and LSU, the reports seek to address such questions as what effect federal greenhouse gas laws could have on Louisiana and what the state can do to prepare for, as well as take advantage of, any economic development the new laws would bring, McDaniel said.

Stephen Moret, Louisiana Economic Development secretary, said it’s looking increasingly plausible that federal legislation limiting greenhouse gas emissions would be enacted by Congress. Louisiana’s current research into greenhouse gas options, he suggested, is an attempt to be proactive about how the state would respond.

“This is one of the biggest federal issues that could impact our economic health here in the state of Louisiana,” Moret said.