ALEC Policy Champion Delivers Energy Reliability and Security for Louisiana
Congratulations to Rep. Jacob Landry for positioning Louisiana as a top state for energy security, affordability, and reliability with HB692.
ALEC is proud to recognize Louisiana Rep. Jacob Landry as the newest ALEC Policy Champion for leading the Pelican State’s effort to reform energy policy and promote access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy with HB692.
HB692 classifies energy generated by nuclear reactors and by using natural gas as “green energy” and ensures the state has access to energy production sources that are affordable, reliable, and adequately dispatchable. This legislation passed the Louisiana legislature with bipartisan support in both chambers and was promptly signed into law by Gov. Jeff Landry.
The new law incorporates elements of the ALEC Affordable, Reliable, and Clean Energy Security Act. The ALEC model followed actions taken in Ohio and Tennessee in 2023. Prior to that, in 2022 the EU backed labelling natural gas and nuclear as “green.”
As we detailed in early 2023, The Washington Post reported incorrectly that ALEC worked with legislators and lobbyists on the Ohio law (a claim repeated in a recent Associated Press story on the Louisiana legislation). At the time, ALEC members had not pursued this idea as model policy. However, members of the ALEC Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force were grateful for the inspiration from The Washington Post, and an ALEC model was soon developed and approved at the Annual Meeting in 2024. As a result, the new ALEC model policy received top billing in the ALEC Essential Policy Solutions for 2025.
As market changes and federal pressures trend toward renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, the prospect of artificially high energy prices threatens states like Louisiana that rely primarily on fossil fuel infrastructure. Redefining “green energy” allows utilities to continue using natural gas while fulfilling state “green energy” or “clean energy” initiatives, helping residents avoid massive spikes in utility costs incurred by a sudden government-mandated transition to renewable sources.
Energy security is not only crucial to power homes and manufacture goods. It is also necessary to meet an increasing demand spurred by new artificial intelligence models, reshoring of manufacturing facilities, and more. For example, Meta announced the company will invest $10 billion into the state for a data center project in northeast Louisiana, bringing jobs, innovation, and higher energy demand with it.
According to the latest ALEC Energy Affordability Report, Louisiana ranks 18th in the nation for cost of energy, relying on natural gas for 71% of its total energy generation. Nuclear and coal account for a combined 24% of energy generation. The reliability of these sources helps keep electricity prices in the Pelican State competitive and will secure Louisiana’s place in the evolving future of energy.
Congratulations to Rep. Jacob Landry for positioning Louisiana as a top state for energy security, affordability, and reliability with HB692.