Louisiana Redefines Natural Gas as Green Energy \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed a law labeling natural gas as green energy, allowing state clean-energy funds to support a fossil fuel. This move mirrors policies in Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee and has sparked criticism as “Orwellian greenwashing.” Climate advocates warn the law undermines renewables and entrenches fossil fuel reliance.
Quick Looks
- Louisiana now defines natural gas as “green energy,” despite its fossil fuel status.
- Four states total—including Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee—adopt similar laws, promoting gas via legislation.
- Environmental groups denounce the move as greenwashing, warning it diverts support from renewables.
Deep Look
Louisiana has become the fourth Republican-led state to legally redefine natural gas as “green energy,” joining Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee in enacting legislation environmentalists say could dramatically reshape state-level clean energy policies. Governor Jeff Landry, a staunch advocate of the state’s petrochemical sector, signed the bill into law this week, hailing it as a necessary step to boost energy security and economic development. Critics, however, view the law as an attempt to greenwash fossil fuels and divert public funds from genuinely renewable sources like solar and wind.
The law mandates that Louisiana’s public utility regulators and state agencies “prioritize” both natural gas and nuclear energy for electricity generation. This reclassification means natural gas—despite being a fossil fuel responsible for greenhouse gas emissions—can now receive state incentives and funding originally intended for clean energy programs. Environmental groups and scientists argue that this undermines the very definition of green energy and delays the transition toward genuinely sustainable alternatives.
Globally, green energy is defined as energy derived from non-polluting, renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal. Unlike these sources, natural gas is primarily composed of methane, a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. While switching from coal to gas can reduce CO₂ emissions, it often leads to an increase in methane leaks throughout the supply chain—from extraction to transportation to usage.
Stanford climate scientist Rob Jackson warned that building new gas infrastructure “locks in fossil fuel emissions for decades.” Although cleaner than coal on paper, gas remains a major driver of climate change due to its methane content. Jackson added that beyond coal, every other energy source—renewable or nuclear—is preferable for the planet.
Environmentalists, including Greenpeace USA, have labeled Louisiana’s move “Orwellian greenwashing.” Tim Donaghy, Greenpeace’s research director, said the law was part of a broader fossil fuel industry strategy to rebrand gas as clean energy to obstruct the renewable transition. He and others point to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a conservative think tank with ties to the oil-rich Koch network, as a key player in drafting model legislation adopted in multiple states.
Representative Jacob Landry, who authored the law and owns an oil and gas consulting firm, admitted to using ALEC’s model bill as a template. He argued that his legislation is not anti-renewable but focused on practical energy reliability. “You got to realize the wind don’t blow all the time and the sun don’t shine every day,” he told the Associated Press. But critics say this talking point has been weaponized to justify fossil fuel dominance and stall innovation.
Documents obtained by the Energy and Policy Institute and first reported by The Washington Post reveal ALEC’s deep involvement in shaping Ohio’s 2023 law that also redefined natural gas as green energy. Dave Anderson of the Institute described the legislation as part of a long-running misinformation campaign aimed at preempting competition from renewables and restricting municipalities from enacting their own clean energy mandates.
The Louisiana law also prioritizes nuclear energy, which emits no greenhouse gases during power generation. While some support its inclusion in a low-carbon energy mix, critics note that nuclear plants are expensive, slow to build, and pose unresolved waste disposal issues. Despite those challenges, nuclear remains far less controversial than natural gas when categorized as “green.”
Supporters of the law argue it’s necessary for grid reliability and economic growth. With 80% of Louisiana’s power grid already dependent on natural gas, Governor Landry believes the new law sends a message to businesses that the state offers stable, dependable energy. He cited Meta’s plan to build a massive artificial intelligence data center powered by three gas plants as evidence of business interest in reliable energy infrastructure.
However, energy policy experts and clean energy advocates caution that legally prioritizing gas over renewables risks undermining technological progress. Jeffrey Clark, president of the Advanced Power Alliance, said in a statement that such mandates are “blind to innovation, market evolution, and the practical demands of modern electric systems.” He emphasized that reliability can be achieved without sidelining renewables or promoting outdated, polluting technologies.
The law’s practical implications remain unclear, as enforcement will depend on Louisiana’s utility regulators. Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, a Democrat, has publicly vowed to disregard the law, calling it “unenforceable.” In contrast, Republican commissioner Jean-Paul Coussan welcomed the law, claiming it “aligns well” with the state’s energy growth strategy.
As these legal redefinitions continue spreading across conservative-led states, experts warn of a troubling trend: state-backed fossil fuel favoritism masquerading as environmental policy. The rebranding of natural gas may offer short-term economic and political benefits but could have long-term consequences for climate goals, clean energy investments, and public trust.
With fossil fuel lobbying shaping state legislation and ALEC’s influence deepening, Louisiana’s law could become a template for more states seeking to entrench fossil fuels within the clean energy framework—risking further delay in the global effort to combat climate change.
Louisiana Redefines Louisiana Redefines
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