The Louisiana Decision Support Tool provides geospatial analyses of environmental, regulatory and legal constraints to project deployment coupled with analyses of potential environmental justice constraints. Strategic stakeholder convening informed the model of issues that are most important to communities. This project defines equitable carbon management technology deployment and geologic carbon storage exploration that is inclusive of a spectrum of environmental social considerations.

The decision support tool analyzes multiple factors that are integral to the carbon management siting process. The tool considers key social factors indicating the vulnerability of communities across the state, as well as environmental regulatory, legal, and justice constraints to project deployment.

To make sure community voice and equity are a key part of the tool, the Great Plains Institute worked with local partners to identify and convene stakeholders that represent diverse local perspectives. With the support of Louisiana-based facilitation experts at Franklin & Associates, the Great Plains Institute, Carbon Solutions, and SWCA hosted a series of community roundtables across the state to ensure community input guided the development of the support tool.

Together, project partners lead community members in exercises that allowed them to prioritize the weight of various social factors, further refine how acceptable siting locations are determined, and provide key feedback on what additional environmental components should be included as well.

The final version of the tool, crafted with this valuable community feedback in mind, displays data from dozens of indicators in a social factors map, an environmental factors map and a comprehensive map that combines all factor categories together. The team at Great Plains Institute continues to request and accept feedback from users to continuously streamline and improve the tool.

This tool is just one component of the Great Plains Institute’s ongoing work to ensure the ongoing deployment of carbon management projects across Louisiana and throughout the country is done in a responsible and equitable way. GPI also works with state, local, and community leaders to provide insights and primary information on carbon management technologies, including the energy use and overall effects of operations, to help highlight the impacts each may have on communities. These impacts inherently include tertiary benefits such as improved air quality and enhanced economic opportunity.

Louisiana outreach

Louisiana-specific outreach was a key part of developing the Decision Support Tool. GPI hosted four roundtable discussions in Baton Rouge, Kenner, Alexandria, and Sulphur that provided an inclusive platform for diverse community voices. The main focus of these conversations was to gather user input on the tool’s social data and usability. Participant feedback helped GPI make the tool more reflective of community values. For more information on the outreach process, read our two-page factsheet, or an in-depth report from our partners at Carbon Solutions

Preview the tool to the right, or view the full tool
Join us in shaping the future of carbon management outreach with your valuable input!

As GPI plans to expand the Decision Support Tool to other states, we actively welcome feedback. Carbon management projects are continually proposed throughout Louisiana, and there are numerous opportunities for community involvement with this tool. Individuals are encouraged to share the tool and other resources related to carbon management widely within their communities. If anyone is interested in getting involved, GPI encourages them to provide feedback on the tool’s design and functionality by reaching out directly or completing a brief online survey.