The Future of Energy Forum, hosted by Tulane University, featured energy industry leaders and experts to discuss how to meet global energy demands while reducing carbon emissions. 

Sen. Bill Cassidy opened the forum in his address on Nov. 13. Cassidy outlined a four-pronged approach to address U.S. energy, national security, economic and climate goals. 

Kimberly Gramm, chief innovation and entrepreneurship officer at the Tulane Innovation Institute, moderated the first session and summarized Cassidy’s plan. 

According to Gramm, Cassidy “created his energy operation [at] warp speed, to invest in U.S. energy production and reduce red tape.” 

Energy investments will allow the U.S. to draw “developing countries closer by financing smart and sustainable energy production in developing nations to limit the dependence on Russia and China,” Gramm said. Additionally, “coordinating with our allies to alleviate the current energy crisis, reducing global emissions.” 

As a global leader in energy production, processing and transportation, Louisiana is at the forefront of this discussion.  

Louisiana ranks sixth among the United States in energy production.  

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Texas leads energy production in the US at 25.5%. Pennsylvania follows Texas at 10.1%, then New Mexico at 6.8%, Wyoming at 6.1%, West Virginia at 5.9% and Louisiana at 4.9%. 

Louisiana is a leader in natural gas production.  

In 2022, Louisiana produced 4,182.5 trillion British thermal units of marketed natural gas. In 2023, the U.S. was the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter, and Louisiana handled 61% of U.S. LNG exports. 

Additionally, Louisiana accounts for 10% of the total natural gas production in the U.S. and houses 6% of the natural gas reserves in the U.S. 

In addition to natural gas, Louisiana produced 207.4 trillion Btu of crude oil and 168.9 trillion Btu of nuclear electric power in 2022.  

While Louisiana is a leader in production, it also consumes a significant amount of energy, ranking second in the country.  

This is largely due to Louisiana’s energy-intensive industrial sector that includes the chemical, petroleum and natural gas industries. 

In 2022, Louisiana consumed 2,073.7 trillion Btu of natural gas, 598.3 trillion Btu of hydrocarbon gas liquids and 572.2 trillion Btu of other petroleum products. 

Lia Prados and Ma Caszandra Joy Dante contributed to the reporting of this story.