Louisiana Bets Big on 'Blue Ammonia' as Communities Along Cancer Alley Brace for the Cost

Carbon capture hasn't delivered major climate benefits — and the plants would still emit thousands of tons of pollution.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Along Louisiana's Mississippi River corridor, fertilizer giant CF Industries and other companies are placing multibillion-dollar bets on 'blue ammonia' — a product made from fossil fuels but with extra technology to capture planet-warming gases and pipe them underground for storage. However, an extensive review found no evidence that existing carbon capture projects have achieved the emissions cuts companies are promising, and permit documents show the proposed plants could discharge over 2,800 tons of air pollutants annually, including more than 400 tons of ammonia. Residents in communities already saturated with petrochemical pollution are concerned about the health and safety risks of these new plants.

Why it matters

The Louisiana plants would be located in communities along 'Cancer Alley,' a chemical corridor known for elevated health risks and a dense concentration of petrochemical plants and refineries. The new ammonia plants could worsen respiratory health issues and delay the phase-out of fossil fuels, while bringing substantial air pollution and safety risks to these already overburdened areas.

The details

The companies proposing the blue ammonia plants - CF Industries, Air Products, Clean Hydrogen Works and St. Charles Clean Fuels - have said their operations will provide clean fertilizer and energy to global markets, create hundreds of jobs, and prioritize public health and safety. However, experts dispute the climate benefits of carbon capture technology, noting that existing projects have captured less than 60% of carbon dioxide on average. The plants would also be allowed to release carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde, in addition to large amounts of ammonia, a highly hazardous chemical.

  • In 2024, the CF Industries Donaldsonville plant released more toxic air pollutants than all but one other industrial site nationally.
  • In November 2025, over 300 people attended a public hearing on the Air Products blue ammonia project, with all but 3 opposing the plan.

The players

Ashley Gaignard

A resident of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, less than three miles from the world's largest ammonia plant, who says the air carries a chemical edge and has concerns about the health impacts on her community.

CF Industries

A fertilizer giant that is proposing a multibillion-dollar blue ammonia plant in Louisiana's Cancer Alley region.

Air Products

A company planning to build a large blue ammonia plant in Ascension Parish, Louisiana that would pipe carbon dioxide and store it beneath Lake Maurepas.

Clean Hydrogen Works

A company proposing the Ascension Clean Energy blue ammonia project in Donaldsonville, Louisiana that would produce up to 7.2 million tons of ammonia annually and capture up to 98% of the carbon dioxide.

St. Charles Clean Fuels

A company planning a blue ammonia plant in Louisiana that it says will capture more than 99% of the carbon dioxide generated.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.