Restoring resilience: A Water Institute study found that a 60-acre marsh restoration project on Alabama’s Dauphin Island reduced flood risk for nearby homes and businesses by 9% to 18%. However, insurance prices did not consistently reflect the reduced risk, highlighting gaps in how flood insurance accounts for coastal restoration. The Baton Rouge-based research group is working with Louisiana partners to explore whether similar projects could help lower insurance costs in the state. Louisiana Illuminator has the full story.
Public comment sought: Louisiana regulators have opened a 25-day public comment period through Nov. 7 on Houston-based Delfin’s request for retroactive approval of repairs to its 42-inch natural gas pipeline in Cameron Parish that severely burned a contractor and released an estimated 56 million cubic feet of gas. The company has replaced a 105-foot section of the pipeline, which was undergoing testing ahead of operations at Delfin’s offshore liquefied natural gas export terminal, now expected to begin service in late 2030. Environmental groups have raised safety concerns about the aging pipeline and its expedited federal approvals, and the state is accepting objections and requests for a public hearing on the repairs. The Center Square has the full story.
Costs keep climbing: U.S. inflation accelerated in September, with the consumer price index rising 3.7% from a year earlier, up from 3.4% in August, as higher gasoline, clothing and airfares drove up costs. The Iran war’s disruption to energy supplies has pushed up fuel and transportation expenses, adding pressure on businesses and consumers, while rising costs for technology and other goods have further strained household budgets. Persistent inflation complicates the Federal Reserve’s efforts to stabilize prices, with officials weighing further interest rate increases as affordability concerns intensify ahead of the midterm elections. The Associated Press has the full story.
