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New CO2 Removal Plants Expected to Boost Northwest Louisiana Economic Development

In the first phase of the project, Heirloom announced plans to invest $475 million to establish its first DAC facility in Louisiana and second in North America.
In the first phase of the project, Heirloom announced plans to invest $475 million to establish its first DAC facility in Louisiana and second in North America.

Heirloom Carbon Technologies, Inc. officials stated that the project will support more than one thousand construction jobs and create 81 permanent positions, with an average annual salary of $56,000.

A major announcement about economic development in northwest Louisiana is generating a lot of attention. And it all involves the removal of tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air we breathe. San Francisco-based
Heirloom Carbon Technologies, Inc. confirms they will build two Direct Air Capture (DAC) facilities at the Port of Caddo-Bossier. In the first phase of the project, Heirloom announced plans to invest $475 million to establish its first DAC facility in Louisiana and second in North America.

An Heirloom engineer at America’s first commercial direct air capture (DAC) facility, which the company unveiled in November 2023 in Tracy, California.
An Heirloom engineer at America’s first commercial direct air capture (DAC) facility, which the company unveiled in November 2023 in Tracy, California.

In a news release sent to the media on Monday, in conjunction with Louisiana Economic Development (LED), Heirloom officials stated that the project will support more than one thousand construction jobs and create 81 permanent positions, with an average annual salary of $56,000. Caitlin Cain, the company’s community engagement lead, tells Red River Radio News about a major factor which led them to choose the Caddo-Bossier Port. “What we’re specifically interest in, in Louisiana, is the workforce,” began Cain, adding, “You know, very similar workforce in terms of (a) traditional energy sector, so it’s highly transferable skillsets for the work that we’ll be doing.”
Cain says construction of the first DAC facility is expected to get underway early next year. When it becomes operational in 2026, the plant is expected to remove roughly 17,000 tonnes (metric tons) of CO2 every year. The second facility is under design as part of Project Cypress, the Regional DAC Hub in Louisiana is managed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), which is eligible for up to $600 million in funding.

Heirloom’s Direct Air Capture process powered by Leilac’s renewably powered electric kiln.
Heirloom’s Direct Air Capture process powered by Leilac’s renewably powered electric kiln.

Heirloom estimates that once their second DAC facility becomes operational at the port, the two plants are expected to have a combined yearly CO2 capture capacity of nearly 320,000 metric tons, for its half of Project Cypress. The company’s technology enhances the power of limestone [nearly 50% of which is CO2] to capture CO2 directly from the air.
Heirloom’s corporate statement adds that “this expands the footprint and job-creation potential of Project Cypress beyond Southwest Louisiana, where Climeworks is building its Project Cypress facility in Calcasieu Parish.
Heirloom is also partnering with Allen, Texas-based CapturePoint, to permanently store the CO2 in what is described as Class VI underground wells. And people can already register here to be notified about Heirloom job opportunities, hiring events and news updates.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, and a graduate of the University of Washington, Jeff began his on-air broadcasting career 33 years ago in the Black Hills of South Dakota as a general assignment reporter.