The New Orleans City Council has approved a $30 million Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program that will protect residents during power outages.
The resolution establishes a citywide distributed energy resources (DER) program, creating a VPP of batteries installed in approximately 1,500 homes and 250 community settings in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“This is a historic step toward protecting lives in New Orleans,” said Nathalie Jordi of the community organization Together New Orleans. “Rather than wait for the power grid to go down again, the city is building power at the neighborhood level that keeps people safe when it matters most.”
The Neighborhood Power Plan is the culmination of years of organizing and policy development led by Together New Orleans and the Alliance for Affordable Energy, in collaboration with municipalities, clinics, unions and neighborhood agencies in the city following Hurricane Ida.
“Today’s outcome proves that when residents organize around real solutions, city government can deliver results,” said Sonya Norsworthy, board chair of Together New Orleans.
The Neighborhood Energy Plan will be funded using Entergy payment dollars, with costs recovered through existing Energy Smart mechanisms and without an increase in energy rates for customers.
Under the resolution, the city will launch a three-year DER program that includes $28 million in initial incentives to install solar and battery systems, with at least 40% of housing financing earmarked for low- to moderate-income households.
After the final bill passes later this week, Entergy New Orleans will work with the City Council, program advisors and a third-party administrator to finalize the implementation plan and begin rolling out installations in neighborhoods across the city in 2026.
News item from Together New Orleans
