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House concurs with Senate on renewable energy rules, including setbacks and Port Fourchon wind exemption
Summary
The House agreed to Senate amendments to a renewable energy development bill that add local opt‑out options and site setbacks, set noise and buffer requirements, and exempt wind projects on leases executed before June 30, 2024, citing Port Fourchon.
The Louisiana House on Tuesday concurred with Senate amendments to a renewable energy development measure that set new local controls and technical conditions for large solar and wind projects.
Representative Tanner Coates, the bill sponsor, said the Senate had added limits on projects of 75 acres or more, allowed parishes to opt out or comment on certain projects, and added detailed setback and mitigation requirements including a 50‑foot vegetative buffer and specified setbacks from residences, navigable waters and public roads.
The Senate amendments require a 300‑foot or 500‑foot setback in some circumstances for certain installations, a 50‑foot natural vegetative barrier where new plantings are added, and a noise limit described on the floor as “no greater than 10 decibels” (as presented). The amendment also exempts wind turbines installed on property under lease before June 30, 2024 — language the sponsor said was intended to preserve earlier Port Fourchon projects.
Coates said the changes were negotiated to protect residential property and natural resources while allowing utility‑scale renewable projects. He asked colleagues to concur with the Senate edits.
The House concurred in the amendments by recorded vote; the clerk announced 74 ayes and 12 nays. The bill will proceed toward final steps consistent with legislative procedure.
