Outside Money, Local Faces: Who Is Really Driving Louisiana’s Anti-CCS Movement?

For years, opponents of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) have portrayed their movement as a grassroots uprising against industrial development in Louisiana. But a new infographic paints a different picture: one of national organizations, billionaire-funded campaigns, and out-of-state money flowing into a network of Louisiana advocacy groups.

According to the data, more than $115.5 million has been directed to Louisiana-based anti-oil and gas organizations since 2020, with 98.4% of those groups' funding originating from outside the state. The network includes organizations such as the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Save My Louisiana, and several anti-CCS groups operating across the state.

The infographic also highlights connections to major national players, including Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, Michael Bloomberg-backed initiatives, and federal grants distributed during the Biden administration. These organizations are shown providing funding, coordination, litigation support, or advocacy assistance to Louisiana groups.

Perhaps most striking is the overlap between anti-CCS activism and broader political litigation. The graphic notes lawsuits targeting President Trump, Governor Jeff Landry, and Louisiana energy companies, suggesting that opposition to CCS is often part of a larger political agenda rather than a narrow environmental concern.

Louisianans deserve an honest debate about energy policy. But that debate should begin with transparency. When nearly all funding comes from outside Louisiana, voters have every right to ask whether the anti-CCS movement is truly grassroots, or simply the local face of a well-funded national campaign.