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Call for investment: Cameron LNG and Sempra Infrastructure helped fund the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ release of 150,000 hatchery-raised redfish in coastal waters, but southwest Louisiana fishers say more investment is needed to address habitat loss. They argue that restoring marshlands around Calcasieu Lake is more important to the long-term health of the fishery because young redfish need healthy habitat and food sources to survive. The dispute reflects broader tensions between the region’s fishing community and LNG industry, including a lawsuit against Venture Global alleging that dredging and construction activities damaged wetlands and oyster habitat. Louisiana Illuminator has the full story.
NOLA operations center: Applied Atomics plans to invest $8.2 million to establish its headquarters and technical operations center in New Orleans, creating 41 direct jobs with an average annual salary of $121,000. The 18,500-square-foot Bywater facility will include corporate offices, a fabrication and assembly shop, control room, training center and an outdoor Plexiplant demonstration system, but will not generate nuclear power or handle radioactive materials. The project is expected to strengthen Louisiana’s emerging nuclear energy and advanced manufacturing ecosystem, with the headquarters build-out slated for completion by the end of 2026 and the training system expected to come online in 2027.
Homebuyers pull back: Mortgage rates climbed to 7.12% last week, the highest level since 2024, contributing to a 1.5% weekly decline in total mortgage applications and further weakening home purchase and refinance demand. Purchase applications fell 1% from the prior week and 11% year over year, while refinance applications dropped 3% weekly and 62% from a year earlier. As borrowers look for lower monthly payments, adjustable-rate mortgages accounted for 9.8% of applications, up from 8.4% the previous week, while rates edged lower to start this week as oil prices and bond yields declined. CNBC has the full story.
