Rapides One CCS (Sparta/Wilcox) Project

Rapides One CCS (Sparta/Wilcox) Project
  • Developed by CapturePoint Solutions, LLC.
  • Involves deep geologic storage of captured carbon dioxide in saline formations.
  • Target formations: Eocene Sparta and Paleocene Upper and Lower Wilcox.
  • Each formation is capped by thick, secure confining layers (200–800 feet thick).
  • The first injection of CO₂ was projected for 2024, pending final permitting.
  • The infrastructure includes both pipeline construction and capture facilities
  • Property Rights and Eminent Domain
    • Residents are particularly alarmed by the possibility that companies could use eminent domain to seize private land for CCS infrastructure like pipelines and injection wells.
    • Recent state legislative efforts have sought to make it more difficult for companies to use eminent domain for these projects, reflecting local anxieties about potential overreach and loss of property autonomy.
  • Safety of CO₂ Storage
    • Community members express unease about the long-term risks of underground carbon storage.
    • Fears center on the potential for leaks or accidents that could affect air quality, water sources, or the value and usability of their land.
  • Transparency and Public Involvement
    • Critics argue that early presentations about CCS projects often focus on job creation and economic gains, while downplaying or omitting specifics about the technical risks and processes involved in capturing, transporting, and storing carbon dioxide.
    • Residents are calling for greater transparency, more accessible public meetings, and ongoing opportunities for community input before projects move forward.
  • Pipeline Expansion
    • There is growing resistance to the idea of new CO₂ pipeline infrastructure crossing private property, with concerns about safety, land values, and the precedent set for future energy projects in the region.
  • Regulatory Oversight
    • Some citizens question whether Louisiana’s regulatory agencies have the independence and expertise to enforce rigorous safety standards, especially as the state seeks to attract substantial industrial investment.
    • Skeptics are wary of the potential influence of industry insiders within regulatory bodies and want assurances that oversight will prioritize public welfare over corporate interests.

Recent Actions and Community Response

  • Elected officials, including State Representative Mike Johnson, have responded to community concern by pushing for stricter laws to protect property owners and by promising to host public forums that include outside experts in CCS technology.
  • Local media and citizen groups continue to highlight fears about environmental harm, property value impacts, and the adequacy of emergency response plans for new carbon pipelines and storage sites.

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