By Emily Burleigh

Louisiana voters will consider just one amendment on the Nov. 5 ballot – expanding the dedication for the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.

The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR) hosted a webinar last week with Daniel Erspamer, CEO, Pelican Institute for Public Policy, Barry Erwin, president, Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) and Jan Moller, executive director, Invest in Louisiana. They discussed all 2024 constitutional amendments, including the amendment that will be voted on in November.

The trust fund –created in 1989 under the name the Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Fund – became the main source of financing for projects and efforts in the Coastal Master Plan – the playbook created by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to address coastal loss and improve hurricane resilience.

The master plan contains projects costing “billions and billions of dollars,” and only a “sliver” of the plan has been funded, said Melinda Deslatte, research director, PAR

The fund currently receives dedicated state and federal oil and gas money; recovery and settlement money from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill (anticipated to run out in 2031); state surplus dollars. This amendment would dedicate future funding from offshore alternative energy production. PAR President Steven Procopio said this would mostly relate to wind farms.

Erwin said CABL is in favor of the amendment because it is “pretty consistent with what we’ve done in the past.”

In 2006, voters passed an amendment that dedicated oil and gas revenues from the outer continental shelf to coastal protection, a vote that has funneled “hundreds of millions per year” into the trust fund.

“It’s served us pretty well by doing that,” he said. “It’s really fueled a huge investment in our coastal projects throughout the last decade, more than that two decades.”

While Invest in Louisiana has no formal position, it is “generally in support” of the amendment, Moller said, explaining that dedicated coastal funds are especially important for South Louisiana

“South Louisiana is the heart of Louisiana’s economy. It’s where a lot of our economic activity is generated, and if we don’t protect the coast, we really threaten lives and livelihoods, and we don’t have nearly enough resources to meet the needs as it is.”

Erspamer agreed that most voters would prioritize coastal protection, but stated the Pelican Institute is in opposition because lawmakers are “seeking flexibility” in budget decisions and financial priorities.

“We need to empower the legislature to make those decisions and to represent the priorities of their constituents,” he said. “As we’re working to try to undedicate resources across the state, we certainly understand the motivation behind it, but have argued we certainly shouldn’t add to the problem.”

“‘Yeah, it’s another dedication. We don’t like doing that. But, there’s some things that are really, truly important, and I think a lot of people in our state feel like the coast is one of those,” said Erwin.

Procopio noted that Louisiana currently does not have offshore wind farms or federal funding obligations.

“This would dedicate future funding if the bills that are pending in Congress pass to dedicate that money,” Deslatte said.