News from the South - Louisiana News Feed
Wind energy holds promise for Louisiana if Landry ignores Trump bluster
Wind energy holds promise for Louisiana if Landry ignores Trump bluster
by Greg LaRose, Louisiana Illuminator
March 20, 2025
We might not be Oklahoma, where I’m told the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain, but Louisiana is poised to make a mark in the burgeoning offshore wind energy sector. It arguably already has.
More than a decade ago, Gulf Island Fabricators in Houma built five jackets (think of the base of an offshore oil derrick, but for windmills) for the nation’s first-ever commercial offshore wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island. The company leaned on its extensive background in deepwater oil and gas platform fabrication for the project, which Keystone Engineering of Metairie designed.
As for offshore wind energy development in Louisiana waters, we’re lagging behind other states for multiple reasons. For starters, the Gulf Coast simply isn’t as windy when compared to the oceanfronts of Northern California and New England. Plus, the fossil fuel sector has been, and continues to be, the driving force in energy development.
But change definitely is in the air based on conversations at Monday’s meeting of the Louisiana House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment. Its members heard from renewable energy advocates and state officials on prospects for solar and wind development.
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The discussion took place as President Donald Trump has brought to a stop all wind energy development for federal land and waters. His executive order, signed on Inauguration Day, resulted in a 60-day suspension of “any onshore or offshore renewable energy authorization” that ends Friday.
It’s no secret Trump holds great disdain for wind energy and has spread disinformation to steer public opinion toward his side on the topic. Without anything resembling proof, he has blamed wind turbines for causing cancer and killing whales and argues they lower property values.
To this point, Louisiana officials have not let the president’s bluster steer their views on wind energy. Trump’s order doesn’t affect leases in state waters 3 miles off the coast, and there has been bipartisan support for state legislation to pave the way for offshore wind farms.
Perhaps most notably, Louisiana lawmakers thwarted an effort in 2022 to keep solar and wind farm developers from taking part in the state’s lucrative Industrial Tax Exemption Program.
Maybe the most encouraging words from Monday’s legislative hearing came from Blake Canfield, executive counsel for the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources. It’s the closest thing we’ve heard to an endorsement for wind energy development from Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration.
“We are known worldwide we’re being an energy state and for having done many years of oil and gas activity,” Canfield told the committee. “A lot of the technical expertise, manufacturing and other attributes that make us … very good at oil and gas, I think also can carry over to offshore wind.”
Admittedly, the proliferation of wind energy development in Louisiana still faces significant obstacles. Chief among them is getting electrical utilities to link their transmission systems to the new offshore power sources — and who will pay for those connections.
Still, it’s encouraging to hear state lawmakers entertain the option of renewable energy sources. It’s a conversation that needs to continue, especially as Louisiana residents and businesses see higher utility bills and lower reliability from a power supply largely dependent on fossil fuel generation
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Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.
The post Wind energy holds promise for Louisiana if Landry ignores Trump bluster appeared first on lailluminator.com
News from the South - Louisiana News Feed
New Orleans 10pm Weather: Warm weekend ahead
SUMMARY: New Orleans is set for pleasant weather this weekend, following a cool evening with temperatures currently around 58 degrees. Tomorrow’s temperatures will rise to the upper 70s under clear skies, making it ideal for outdoor activities. Sunday will also be warm, slightly more humid, with temperatures in the upper 70s and a 10% chance of rain. A cold front is expected to bring showers and storms on Monday, starting in the morning and continuing through the afternoon, though severe weather is not anticipated. Following Monday, the week looks dry with temperatures gradually warming up to the 80s.

Meteorologist Alexa Trischler says expect a nice and pleasant Saturday, as warming trend continues Sunday.
News from the South - Louisiana News Feed
College Signing Celebration
SUMMARY: Jeremiah Sims from Carroll High School celebrated his commitment to St. Mary University, emphasizing the support from his family. Reflecting on his journey, he expressed gratitude to God and recognized the challenges of coaching changes but was proud of his perseverance. Jeremiah believes St. Mary is the right fit, loving the team’s culture and the potential for immediate impact as a freshman. A talented lineman, he aims to excel while considering a future in law after gaining experience at the DA’s office. As a role model, he guides younger players, instilling values of hard work and dedication in both academics and athletics.

Jeremiah Sims makes it official with St. Mary Football
News from the South - Louisiana News Feed
Louisiana Crawfish Festival vendor sells Chinese mudbugs without required signage: report
Louisiana Crawfish Festival vendor sells Chinese mudbugs without required signage: report
by Louisiana Illuminator, Louisiana Illuminator
March 21, 2025
A food vendor at the Louisiana Crawfish Festival in St. Bernard Parish has served Chinese-sourced crustaceans and failed to disclose it as required under state law, organizers have confirmed.
WVUE-TV Fox 8 reports organizers were made aware of the infraction when an attendee sent them pictures of a vendor using packages of foreign crawfish. Louisiana law requires fair food vendors, restaurants, seafood markets, grocers and other retailers to display signs that detail the origin of any foreign crawfish they sell.
Crawfish Festival secretary Cisco Gonzales Jr. confirmed to Fox 8 that the visitor told organizers the vendor had no such signage.
“We know how important supporting local seafood is in St. Bernard Parish,” Gonzales said. “You know, I come from a family of fishermen. A lot of my uncles and cousins are still down there doing that, and we want to respect that and we wanna make sure that our vendors are respectful of that, too.”
The crawfish for all festival vendors are being checked, and they are being asked to display signage if they’re serving foreign catch, Gonzales said.
The Louisiana Crawfish, held annually for 50 years in Chalmette, started Wednesday and ends Saturday.
The origin of seafood sold and served in Louisiana is under heightened scrutiny after Louisiana strengthened its source disclosure law, effective Jan. 1. Optional fines for offenses start at $15,000 for a first offense to $50,000 for third and subsequent offenses.
Spot genetic testing from the Texas-based firm SeaD Consulting has revealed most merchants, eateries and vendors sampled are purveying local catch, but some are either knowingly selling foreign seafood or aren’t aware of the labeling law.
SeaD found four Lafayette restaurants out of 24 sampled were selling foreign shrimp passed off as local in a study it conducted last month. It conducted similar testing in New Orleans in January, when three of 24 restaurants sold undisclosed imported shrimp.
In November, a joint investigation from Fox 8 and the Illuminator used SeaD testing and found that the large majority of vendors at a local festival and seafood market were providing catch from the Gulf of Mexico and area waters.
SeaD Consulting does not disclose the names of businesses it discovers selling undisclosed foreign seafood, preferring instead to raise awareness of the state labeling law.
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Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.
The post Louisiana Crawfish Festival vendor sells Chinese mudbugs without required signage: report appeared first on lailluminator.com
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