Tallgrass Energy Partners is collaborating with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to advance coastal restoration and hurricane damage reduction initiatives with the sale of over 500 acres in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.

The agreement advances Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ efforts to protect communities against hurricanes by creating more wetlands to act as a natural storm barrier. 

The agreement will allow CPRA to use its Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion plan to divert sediment and water from the Mississippi to the Barataria Basin without the exercise of eminent domain. The agreement allows Tallgrass to continue its evaluation of renewable and clean energy developments under CPRA’s assurance that the plans stay consistent with CPRA’s coastal division program. 

“This agreement gets us one step closer to building a first-of-its-kind environmental infrastructure project that will fundamentally change our state's ability to fight land loss. It enables us to build a cornerstone project of our Coastal Master Plan and represents the kind of collaboration between community, government, and the private sector that is required to effectively restore our coast,” said CPRA Chairman Chip Kline. 

The recent agreements add to Tallgrass’ conservation efforts in the area. In 2020, Tallgrass created a “buffer-zone” of 50 acres that prohibited development near the local Ironton community. 

Tallgrass is also partnering with CPRA to protect the history and future of the local community.  CPRA and Tallgrass are creating the Ironton & Southeast Louisiana Committee to conserve the area’s Saint Rosalie Plantation Cemetery. 

Tallgrass said $3 million of the proceeds from the Plaquemines sale will be used to advance the region’s social and economic initiatives, such as restoration of community areas impacted by damage caused by Hurricane Ida. 

Comments