By JIM BUTLER

A committee recommends the Police Jury allow three months to gather more data relative to carbon capture and the Beaver Lake green methanol project.

Parish President Craig Smith wants more,  proposing supporting a move afoot to make Carbon Capture Sequestration a ballot box local option issue.

Both proposals are on today’s monthly meeting agenda.

The Personnel, Elections, Insurance & Legal Committee last week left CCS opponents disgruntled by failing to recommend the Jury reject it out of hand.

Save My Louisiana is carrying the water for those opponents. The non-profit organization has taken its message to many parishes, successfully in some cases.

The jury panel recommends the parish president create a 17-member task force to engage in “transparent and thorough” research for the next 90 days to provide citizens a “valid and unbiased” report on any safety concerns or risks of the $2 billion Beaver Lake project and hold a public hearing to receive results of a requested independent geological study.

Gulf Engineer & Consultants of Baton Rouge has been suggested for that study. It is a firm with environmental experience in Louisiana and other states.

Smith proposes the jury express opposition to use of eminent domain/expropriation of property related to carbon capture operations in the parish.

Save My Louisiana last month filed suit challenging three state laws relative to that subject as unconstitutional.

He also wants the jury to express full support for legislation to allow parish local option elections on the topic, providing an avenue for citizens to return a verdict on the matter.