The Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL) has awarded six projects in a second round of use-inspired research and development (UIRD) investments across Baton Rouge, Ruston, and Lafayette. The projects cover a range of areas from hydrogen production to carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion into high-value products. Dr. Dorin Boldor at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center leads a project converting CO2 into valuable products using microwave-driven plasma. Louisiana Tech University is working on CO2 monitoring with a hybrid system of robots and sensors. Moreover, a project at Louisiana State University focuses on room-temperature hydrogen production from H2S. The funding also supports research on technology for mitigating hydrogen embrittlement in stainless steels and techno-economic analysis of carbon capture and sequestration in Louisiana. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is exploring direct air capture of CO2 via microalgal-based photosynthetic mechanisms. These projects aim to enhance energy innovation, industrial decarbonization, workforce development, and global competitiveness. FUEL's Director of Use-Inspired Research and Development, Dr. Ashwith Chilvery, emphasizes the importance of fostering partnerships between academic institutions and industry to translate research into impactful innovations. The Executive Director of FUEL, Mike Mazzola, highlights the creation of an innovation ecosystem for real-time collaboration, ensuring that research translates into tangible benefits for Louisiana residents and the global energy industry. FUEL's investments play a crucial role in positioning Louisiana for a future of global energy innovation.