Louisiana Captures 3.2M Tons of CO2 From Industrial Sites

A major energy company just hit a milestone that could reshape how America tackles industrial emissions while protecting thousands of jobs.

ExxonMobil is now operating two large-scale carbon capture projects in Louisiana that together trap 3.2 million metric tons of CO2 every year. That's roughly equivalent to taking 700,000 cars off the road annually.

The newest project launched this month at a natural gas processing facility in Gillis, Louisiana. It captures up to 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 from natural gas before it heads to Gulf Coast markets and export terminals.

The captured carbon doesn't escape into the atmosphere. Instead, it gets transported through pipelines and stored permanently underground in deep geological formations.

This follows another project that started last July at a fertilizer plant in Donaldsonville. That facility now produces low-carbon ammonia, a key ingredient in fertilizers that feed crops worldwide.

Two more carbon capture projects are scheduled to begin operations in Louisiana before the end of 2026. ExxonMobil currently has more contracted CO2 storage volume than any other company, working across steel, ammonia, natural gas, and power generation.

The Ripple Effect

Louisiana's carbon capture boom is doing more than reducing emissions. It's attracting billions in new investment and strengthening the state's manufacturing base.

The technology allows Louisiana's steel mills, fertilizer plants, and energy facilities to compete globally while meeting stricter environmental standards. Products made with captured carbon are increasingly valuable in international markets that demand lower-emission goods.

Companies building data centers and other large industrial projects are now choosing Louisiana specifically because they can access low-carbon energy and products. The state has already attracted $61 billion in new emissions reduction investments.

The geology matters too. Louisiana sits above vast underground rock formations perfect for permanent CO2 storage, and decades of energy infrastructure mean pipelines and expertise are already in place.

For industries like cement, steel, and chemicals that can't easily switch to renewable energy, carbon capture offers a path to cut emissions dramatically without shutting down. That means preserving well-paying manufacturing jobs while still addressing climate concerns.

The approach tackles what experts call the "and equation": meeting growing energy demand AND reducing emissions at the same time, rather than forcing a choice between economic growth and environmental progress.

As more facilities come online, Louisiana is proving that heavy industry and serious emissions cuts can coexist.