Louisiana Lawmakers Approve Incentives for Wood Pellet Industry
The measure won unanimous legislative approval and would steer state support to jobs, incentives and infrastructure for pellet manufacturers.
- On Wednesday, the Louisiana Legislature granted final passage to House Bill 670, easing regulations for wood pellet manufacturers while directing state support toward workforce development and infrastructure improvements.
- British energy company Drax operates two mills in Urania and Bastrop, producing roughly $1 billion worth of pellets annually for export to the United Kingdom, where they supply about 6% of the country's electricity.
- Rep. Charles Owen, R-Rosepine, championed the measure to revive Louisiana's struggling logging sector, though supporters admitted they knew little about the industry before backing the legislation.
- Drax has already avoided paying about $75 million in property taxes through the Industrial Tax Exemption Program, or ITEP, and now stands to receive additional state financial incentives.
- Naya Black, an organizer with the Dogwood Alliance, warns the bill makes it easier to pollute "air and water," while Gov. Jeff Landry is expected to sign the measure into law.
8 Articles
8 Articles
Louisiana lawmakers approve incentives for wood pellet industry
A bill aimed at making Louisiana more enticing to the controversial wood pellet industry has sailed through the Legislature, Verite News reports. House Bill 670, sponsored by state Rep. Charles Owen, R-Rosepine, won unanimous approval in the Louisiana House and Senate and was granted final passage on Wednesday. The measure would ease regulations for pellet manufacturers and direct state support toward workforce development, financial incentives …
Louisiana Illuminator
Louisiana lawmakers approve incentives for controversial wood pellet industry
Logs are hoisted from large piles and fed into a chipper at Drax’s wood pellet mill in Urania, Louisiana. (Photo by Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today)A bill aimed at making Louisiana more enticing to the wood pellet industry has sailed through the state legislature. House Bill 670 won unanimous approval in the Louisiana House and Senate. It would ease regulations for pellet manufacturers while directing state support toward workforce development…
Louisiana lawmakers approve incentives for controversial wood pellet industry - Hillsboro Sentry Enterprise
Logs are hoisted from large piles and fed into a chipper at Drax’s wood pellet mill in Urania, Louisiana. (Photo by Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today)A bill aimed at making Louisiana more enticing to the wood pellet industry has sailed through the state legislature. House Bill 670 won unanimous approval in the Louisiana House and Senate. It would ease regulations for pellet manufacturers while directing state support toward workforce development…
Louisiana lawmakers approve incentives for controversial wood pellet industry - Seward Independent
Logs are hoisted from large piles and fed into a chipper at Drax’s wood pellet mill in Urania, Louisiana. (Photo by Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today)A bill aimed at making Louisiana more enticing to the wood pellet industry has sailed through the state legislature. House Bill 670 won unanimous approval in the Louisiana House and Senate. It would ease regulations for pellet manufacturers while directing state support toward workforce development…
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