Louisiana has become the latest state to officially call natural gas a form of green energy, even though it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change. Governor Jeff Landry, a strong supporter of the state’s petrochemical industry, signed a new law this week that requires state agencies and utility regulators to prioritize natural gas alongside nuclear power for the state’s electricity supply.
This move follows similar laws passed in Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee, all led by Republican lawmakers. It comes as some Democratic states and cities like New York, San Francisco, and Berkeley are trying to phase out natural gas, even banning new hookups in buildings. These policies have sometimes faced legal challenges.
Supporters of the Louisiana law argue that natural gas helps keep electricity reliable and affordable. Nearly 80% of Louisiana’s grid already runs on natural gas. The state wants to attract businesses and make sure power stays on, with projects like Meta’s planned AI data center relying on it. Republican Representative Jacob Landry, who owns an oil and gas consulting firm and wrote the bill, said natural gas and nuclear offer steady power when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine.
But environmentalists see this push as a way to delay clean energy growth. They say calling natural gas “green” is misleading because burning it releases carbon dioxide, and leaks of methane—the main component of natural gas—make it a powerful greenhouse gas. Methane traps heat much more efficiently than carbon dioxide and fuels about 30% of global warming today. Greenpeace’s Tim Donaghy described the laws as “Orwellian greenwashing,” aimed at protecting fossil fuel profits and blocking renewables like wind and solar.
The law in Louisiana also encourages prioritizing nuclear power, which doesn’t produce greenhouse gases but raises other concerns like cost and nuclear waste storage. Critics argue that reliability doesn’t require doubling down on natural gas. Renewable energy advocates say the law ignores new technology and market changes that can support a clean, stable grid.
Interestingly, the legislation was inspired by a model bill from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative group with ties to the fossil fuel industry. Similar legislation in Ohio was backed by powerful gas industry interests and influenced by ALEC. While ALEC says it only shares ideas and doesn’t draft laws, watchdog groups warn this is part of a larger campaign to protect fossil fuels from climate rules.
Even within Louisiana’s regulators, opinions differ. Democrat Davante Lewis called the law “unenforceable” and said he would disregard it. Meanwhile, Republican Jean-Paul Coussan supports it, seeing natural gas as key to the state’s growth.
As states wrestle with how to meet energy needs while fighting climate change, Louisiana’s new law highlights the ongoing debate over the role of natural gas. It raises questions about what “green energy” means and how best to power homes and businesses without warming the planet further.