ELKINSVILLE, La. (AP) — A dispute over a planned ammonia plant near a historic Black town in southeastern Louisiana ratcheted up a notch Friday with a challenge to the state’s approval process. The battle over the plant is occurring despite the fact that part of the impetus to build it is a provision in a key climate law signed by President Joe Biden.
The company claims it will store underground almost all of the climate-damaging carbon dioxide emitted in the production of ammonia, commonly used for fertilizers. Environmental groups warn this is an unrealistic expectation . The Tulane University Environmental Law Clinic is asking the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to recuse itself from deciding on a permit for St.
Charles Clean Fuels’ ammonia plant next to the Elkinsville community. The agency appears to have already decided to grant the permit, the clinic said, before weighing all public comment, which would be illegal under Louisiana law. The motion comes after a public hearing in September in St.
Charles Parish was shut down when more than 150 people tried to fit into a room in a public library the state had reserved. The agency characterized that turnout as “an organized attempt to hinder economic growth and prosperity for the state and local communities.” The department said it plans to reschedule the public hearing for late December and will carefully consider public comments.
Elkinsville resident Kimbrelle Kyereh said she is not confident Louis.
