Here's what Louisiana residents should know about Amendment 1 on the November ballot

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Voters across the state will have to decide on one constitutional amendment in the November election. It has to do with directing money from offshore energy sources towards coastal protections.

It will read as such on the ballot:

“Do you support an amendment to require that federal revenues received by the state generated from Outer Continental Shelf alternative or renewable energy production be deposited into the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund?”

Voters will pick “yes” or “no."

It aims to get future revenue from the federal government due to offshore wind and solar sales directed solely to a fund that is for coastal restoration and protections. It would be similar to how oil production money comes to the state from the GOMESA agreement.

If they vote no, the money, which currently is not currently flowing in, will be directed to the state’s general fund.

“If we ever get this money, should it be focused just on coastal issues or should it go shared with the entire state and put in the general fund where all kinds of decisions can be made when it goes toward health, education, health care?” said PAR Louisiana President Steven Procopio.

There isn’t a revenue stream right now, but the renewable offshore business is growing. This amendment would safeguard any future funds for protecting the coast only.

“This constitutional amendment will essentially make that a constitutional protection,” Procopio said.

State Rep. Joe Orgeron brought this amendment to the legislature. As a Cutoff resident, he knows firsthand the dangers of not protecting the coast would cost Louisiana.

“We don't want to have to come in here, knock on the door of the general fund and the taxpayers of Louisiana. We would love, as my north Louisiana legislators say, for the coast to be able to take care of the coast,” Orgeron said.

He also believes putting this language in place will help with federal legislation that would increase funds from oil and renewable energy production in the Gulf.

“It's basically kind of a rededication, a recommitment that Senator Cassidy and Majority Leader Scalise can use in the subsequent negotiations for the BREEZE and the RISEE Act, which of course rolls in offshore renewables into revenue sharing,” Orgeron said.

A vote “no” on amendment one would send the money to the state general fund. A vote “yes” would send it to the coastal protection and restoration fund.

Read the PAR Louisiana guide on the different arguments. It will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot.

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