Like people, communities sometimes play the “What if?” game, wishing they could get a second shot at some life-changing decisions. They seldom get that chance.

Incredibly, Louisiana now has a rare opportunity not just to play “What if” — but to win.

The game, with a window of opportunity that is already closing, goes like this:

What if Louisiana decided to extend the same huge tax breaks, state agency support and educational effort it has given to the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors for 80 years, to the offshore wind energy industry?

What if Louisiana created a master plan to use the engineering and construction resources that made it a giant in offshore oil and gas to become the national hub for the renewable energy that will be employing tens of thousands of highly paid workers not just for a few months, but forever?

What if Louisiana could raise its standard of living while also helping the world reduce the greenhouse gas emissions driving the acceleration in sea level rise that its own scientists and government agree could, if not dramatically checked, flood its bottom third before the end of the century?

This isn’t some idler’s daydream. It’s a real opportunity that can become a life-saving reality for Louisiana — but only if the people you send to the state Legislature act in your best interests.

Here’s why.

Read the rest of the article at The Times-Picayune.

SHARE IT: