Salt water from the Gulf of Mexico has been moving inland, up the drought-stricken Mississippi River – and it’s already contaminating the drinking water supplies in some southeastern Louisiana communities. Officials say they expect the saltwater wedge to reach more drinking water supplies upriver – including Orleans, St. Bernard and Jefferson parishes – by the mid- to late October. This week, Gov. John Bel Edwards requested federal help to address the situation. 

The Coastal Desk’s Halle Parker is putting together a guide to help residents understand the threat of the saltwater wedge – and what they can do to prepare. She joins us today to answer questions that came directly from our listeners. 

In August, the Biden administration opened the first-ever wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. Now, companies can bid for the rights to build giant wind turbines off the coast of southwest Louisiana and east Texas. But despite the excitement leading up to the sale, it only attracted two bidders. Experts say potential bidders might have been deterred by high costs due to inflation and rising interest rates – and by the big fact that, unlike other regions, Gulf states have made no commitment to buy clean energy.

Despite an uncertain future for the wind industry, clean energy is becoming more popular in the Gulf South in other ways, thanks to new federal funding for electric vehicle charging stations. 

Tyler Herrmann is a project manager with Louisiana Clean Fuels, a nonprofit that promotes affordable clean energy technologies for the transportation sector. He joins us today to talk about the state of the electric vehicle industry in Louisiana. 

Earlier this month, The Historic New Orleans Collection opened “The Trail They Blazed,” a traveling exhibition that tells the history of New Orleans’ Civil Rights Movement from the 1950s through the 1970s.

Eric Seiferth is a historian and curator with the Historic New Orleans Collection. He joins us to talk about the exhibit’s mission to celebrate civil rights history while creating a roadmap for future activism.

Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.

You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12 and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.

Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Salt water from the Gulf of Mexico has been moving inland, up the drought-stricken Mississippi River – and it’s already contaminating<a href="https://www.wwno.org/coastal-desk/2023-09-25/salt-water-wedge-in-the-mississippi-river-threatens-drinking-water-in-louisiana"> the drinking water supplies in some southeastern Louisiana communities.</a> Officials say they expect the saltwater wedge to reach more drinking water supplies upriver – including Orleans, St. Bernard and Jefferson parishes – by the mid- to late October. This week, Gov. John Bel Edwards requested federal help to address the situation. The Coastal Desk’s Halle Parker is putting together a guide to help residents understand the threat of the saltwater wedge – and what they can do to prepare. She joins us today to answer questions that came directly from our listeners. 
In August, the Biden administration opened the<a href="https://www.theenergylawblog.com/2023/08/articles/energy/first-ever-gulf-of-mexico-wind-auction-results-in-only-1-wind-lease-offshore-louisiana-what-happens-next/"> first-ever wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico.</a> Now, companies can bid for the rights to build giant wind turbines off the coast of southwest Louisiana and east Texas. But despite the excitement leading up to the sale, it only attracted two bidders. Experts say potential bidders might have been deterred by high costs due to inflation and rising interest rates – and by the big fact that, unlike other regions, Gulf states have made no commitment to buy clean energy.
Despite an uncertain future for the wind industry, clean energy is becoming more popular in the Gulf South in other ways, thanks to new federal funding for electric vehicle charging stations. 
<a href="https://louisianacleanfuels.org/Staff">Tyler Herrmann</a> is a project manager with <a href="https://louisianacleanfuels.org/">Louisiana Clean Fuels,</a> a nonprofit that promotes affordable clean energy technologies for the transportation sector. He joins us today to talk about the state of the electric vehicle industry in Louisiana. 
Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.hnoc.org/">The Historic New Orleans Collection</a> opened “The Trail They Blazed,” a traveling exhibition that tells the history of New Orleans’ Civil Rights Movement from the 1950s through the 1970s.
<a href="https://www.worldfootprints.com/guest/eric-seiferth/">Eric Seiferth</a> is a historian and curator with the Historic New Orleans Collection. He joins us to talk about the exhibit’s mission to celebrate civil rights history while creating a roadmap for future activism.
Today’s episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Adam Vos. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber and our assistant producer is Aubry Procell. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.
You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at 12 and 7 p.m. It’s available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. 
Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHnljV3ag4Kri5od8CIZW2fWdbKHDgH9J8FxhaZRxqvz8hHg/viewform?usp=sf_link">pitch line</a> to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you’re at it, fill out our <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmz4xLJ921qOeYHhAAKSuzzp9RVnDPjvqH3yXmDCtrP0WizQ/viewform?usp=sf_link">listener survey</a>! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you’d like to listen to.
Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

“Louisiana Considered” showcases South Louisiana's biggest stories and features interviews with journalists, newsmakers, and artists. The show is a collaboration between the WWNO and WRKF newsrooms. 

Airs Monday through Friday at noon. 

&ldquo;Louisiana Considered&rdquo; showcases South Louisiana's biggest stories and features interviews with journalists, newsmakers, and artists. The show is a collaboration between the WWNO and WRKF newsrooms.&nbsp;
Airs Monday through Friday at noon.&nbsp;

A daily podcast and show about the top stories facing New Orleans, Baton Rouge and South Louisiana

Louisiana Considered Podcast

“Louisiana Considered” showcases South Louisiana's biggest stories and features interviews with journalists, newsmakers and artists. The show is a collaboration between the WWNO New Orleans Public Radio and WRKF Baton Rouge Public Radio newsrooms. 

Airs live on WWNO and WRKF Monday through Friday at noon.

“Louisiana Considered” showcases South Louisiana's biggest stories and features interviews with journalists, newsmakers and artists. The show is a collaboration between the WWNO New Orleans Public Radio and WRKF Baton Rouge Public Radio newsrooms. 
Airs live on WWNO and WRKF Monday through Friday at noon.