“State officials lining up against energy policy”
Lafayette Independent
By Jeremy Alford
Monday, November 02, 2009

“One after another, Louisiana’s statewide elected officials are taking strong stances against President Barack Obama’s proposed energy plan that would, as proposed, reduce the pollution counts connected to global warming and increase the nation’s reliance on cleaner energies. Gov. Bobby Jindal, for one, says that the so-called cap and trade bill ‘punishes the American energy industry.’ …

Last week, state Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain joined Jindal in expressing concern over the concept. More specifically, Strain says cap and trade ‘is not favorable for Louisiana or the national agriculture economic sector.” In a policy paper, he argued that cap and trade is in essence a tax on fossil fuels that will artificially increase the cost of energy and manufactured products. In turn, he added that such a ‘tax’ would change private and corporate behavior. ‘Louisiana farmers will be subject to caps because of the nature of their crops and the limits set by the federal government,’ Strain says. ‘Our dairy and cattle operations as well as rice production will all be affected.’ …

He says that’s just one reason why ‘the legislation represents a net increased cost to the agricultural community and places Louisiana and United States agriculture at a disadvantage from a global trading standpoint.’ …”

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“Our view: Take action now to help end all abuse”
Alexandria Town-Talk
Editorial
November 2, 2009

“BOOS: To members of Congress who are promoting carbon legislation to the detriment of the national economy. A real-time example affected by discussion of such ‘cap and trade’ measures relates to Nucor Corp. and the giant steelmaker’s plans to build a manufacturing facility in Louisiana. Charlotte, N.C.-based Nucor said last week that the possible cost of any carbon legislation remains a deciding factor in where it will build — in St. James Parish or in Brazil. Legislation that sends the plant to South America will do nothing to reduce pollution and, in fact, could increase it because of fewer restrictions and virtually no enforcement. It also will cost the state and the nation jobs. The $2.1 billion project would initially employ 500 people at an annual average salary of $75,000, making it one of Louisiana’s largest economic development projects ever.”

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