The Vernon Parish Police Jury has formally voted to oppose carbon capture and sequestration projects within the parish, citing significant concerns over public safety, environmental risks, and long-term oversight. The decision, made on Nov. 17, reverses the parish’s earlier willingness to consider industrial development tied to carbon storage.

According to the resolution adopted at the meeting, the police jury affirmed its responsibility to protect the health, safety, property, and natural resources of residents. The resolution notes that carbon capture and sequestration—an industrial process involving the capture, transport, and underground injection of carbon dioxide—has raised substantial concern both locally and statewide.

Jurors referenced reported incidents in other regions involving CO₂ pipeline ruptures and storage failures, stating that such events demonstrate potential hazards, particularly in rural areas with limited emergency response capacity. The resolution also points to unanswered questions surrounding long-term monitoring, liability, and whether local governments or landowners could be left responsible for risks or financial burdens associated with the projects.

In its final language, the police jury declared its opposition to the siting, permitting, construction, or operation of any CCS project or related CO₂ pipeline infrastructure in Vernon Parish unless the technology is independently verified as safe, effective, and supported by informed consent from local residents.

The resolution also calls on the Governor of Louisiana and state regulatory agencies—including the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environmental Quality—to fully consider the concerns of local governments and citizens when reviewing carbon capture proposals.

The vote follows months of mounting public objection, with residents expressing unease about groundwater protection, soil stability, property impacts, and long-term environmental stewardship. The parish’s action places it among a growing number of Louisiana communities that have taken formal positions on carbon storage projects as the issue continues to gain statewide attention.