The energy sector in Louisiana is about to get a major boost with global venture platform Newlab's announcement of its expansion into the state. The new Newlab New Orleans hub looks to spur advancements in the reindustrialization and diversification of the local energy sector, a move that could set a new bar for sustainable economic growth and technology leadership, according to an announcement provided by Louisiana Economic Development (LED). This new venture materializes from a synergistic public-private partnership including LED, the City of New Orleans, Future Use of Energy in Louisiana, Louisiana State University, Greater New Orleans, Inc., and energy giant Shell.
Josh Fleig, the Chief Innovation Officer at LED, emphasized the state's position as an emerging energy leader in his remarks about the expansion. "We’re excited to welcome Newlab to Louisiana as the state expands what it means to be an energy leader," Fleig told Opportunity Louisiana. Newlab's activities will be broken down into three principal focus areas: These involve industrial power, like improving hydrogen production and power efficiency, carbon management, which includes technologies for carbon capture and utilization, and shipping and maritime which will look to elevate port infrastructure and reduce emissions.
Designed to be a linchpin for technological entrepreneurship, this innovation hub is to be located at the Naval Support Activity (NSA) site at a strategic junction between the Intercoastal Industrial Canal and the Mississippi River. The site is significant, given its former life as a massive logistics center for the U.S. Navy, which was decommissioned in 2011. Local developers EMDRC Partners, alongside the City of New Orleans, have masterminded the transformation of the NSA campus into a thriving technology startup hotspot, which, as per the announcement, aims to not only reinvigorate the historical venue but also contribute significantly to the state's economic impact.
"Louisiana’s legacy in commercial-scale energy projects, existing industrial infrastructure, and technical workforce create the perfect foundation to build a startup ecosystem that will future-proof the state’s economy," Newlab Co-founder and CEO David Belt stated, as reported by Opportunity Louisiana. This announcement aligns with New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell's vision for an "inclusive, and innovation-driven local economy." She hailed the launch of Newlab New Orleans as a major step in diversifying the city’s energy sector role while creating sustainable opportunities.
Newlab's footprint in Louisiana already includes collaboration with nine startups and industry partners such as Shell, Battelle, and Carbonvert through two U.S. Department of Energy-backed programs. These programs focus on pushing forward clean hydrogen and carbon management technologies. Among these collaborative efforts, Arculus Solutions—partnering with N2 Solutions, a local pipeline service provider—aims to retrofit natural gas pipelines to safely and cost-effectively transport CO2 and hydrogen. Simultaneously, another startup named Mantel is working with Newlab to deploy point-source carbon capture technology in the state. "Newlab has been instrumental in getting these projects off the ground by connecting us with key stakeholders, including state and local governments and communities. It’s crucial we put their needs first and address them throughout the entire technology development and deployment process," Cameron Halliday, Co-founder & CEO at Mantel, echoed in a statement given to Opportunity Louisiana.
Finally, Newlab's recent expansion into New Orleans is part of a wider pattern of establishing innovation hubs that foster economic transformation and startup commercialization worldwide. Other Newlab locations include Brooklyn, Detroit, and as far afield as Montevideo and Riyadh, marking a global commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship in regions poised for economic and technological growth.
