Renewable & Clean Portfolio Standard

Since hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleanians have advocated for a more equitable city. Thousands of families have invested in energy efficiency and solar to reduce our energy bills and take action on climate, but we still suffer with the second worst energy burdens in the country.

We deserve better than the plan Entergy has put forward, which includes an expensive new gas plant that would continue to pollute our city with over 700 million lbs of greenhouse gases every single year.

For years, the Energy Future New Orleans Coalition has fought this new gas plant. While the fight continues, the coalition has moved forward with a proposal to make New Orleans a 100% renewable city by 2040.

read about EFNO's Renewable New Orleans Vision

In 2018, we asked the New Orleans City Council to open a Renewable Portfolio Standard rulemaking to respond to the realities of climate change. In spring 2019 we got our docket.

On May 20th, 2021 the full New Orleans City Council unanimously voted to adopt R-20-182, establishing a Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard (RCPS) for the city of New Orleans.

New Orleans joins the now 32 states and three US territories that have established renewable energy mandates.

This policy is a crucial step in the race to solve climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions for New Orleans to zero and transitioning energy to the lower cost resources. This policy prioritizes local solar and efficiency first.

Read the Lens and the Advocate's reporting on the Council's action.

Sign the Petition

Add your name to the petition and urge the city of New Orleans to take bold action.

Follow the filings

Follow the filings on the Alliance's resources page.

We'll keep this page updated as the RPS develops!

Survey

Concerned about increases in your energy bill? Tell us what’s happening

In June of 2020 we hosted a Symposium for learning and listening, opening the collaboration to anyone in the New Orleans community, including the participants in the Greater New Orleans Foundation's Climate Action Equity Project.

We took the input and priorities of community members from that Symposium and crafted an innovative Energy Future vision to submit to the City Council. You can read the Resilient Renewable Portfolio Standard here. Also check out more materials from the Symposium below.

Key Insights From Studies

R-RPS Our Energy Jobs Future

one pager on our vision of a renewable future.

So...what exactly is a Renewable Portfolio Standard? It is...

- A requirement that utility companies increase the percentage of energy generated by renewable sources, like solar, wind, geothermal;

- A way of reducing the use of fossil fuels that contribute to climate change and worsen air quality;

- An opportunity for homeowners, renters, and business owners to participate in generating and using renewable energy with benefits that include lower utility bills.

It is also a policy that Washington D.C., 29 states, and 4 US territories have approved. Take a look at the map above. Our region hasn't taken steps to move toward clean and affordable energy yet. Luckily, the New Orleans City Council has the authority to make it happen here.

Our coalition filed recommendations to the Council on what an RPS should look like in New Orleans to ensure it is the best policy for everyone. We have goals to reduce carbon emissions, reduce energy bills, encourage community ownership of renewables, grow the local economy, increase resilience in the face of stronger storms, and ensure that no-one is left behind.

Equity is fundamental to the EFNO coalition. In our vision for climate action in New Orleans, we seek to address and avoid racial, economic, and environmental disparities stemming from traditional energy systems. We know that the path that got us here won't be the one that safeguards our future. Therefore we are advocating for solutions that benefit systematically disadvantaged communities.

Community Symposium
Energy & You Webinar Series

Community Symposium

The Energy Future New Orleans Coalition used the input from our Community Symposium to create a Resilient-Renewable Portfolio Standard:

R-RPS

You can also take a look at all the materials from the symposium below.

RPS Proposal Comparisons

Information Sheet

Renewable Portfolio Standard 101: What is a renewable energy portfolio standard? How have other cities/states developed a RPS?
Joe Daniel, Union of Concerned Scientists

Drafting a Renewable Portfolio Standard for New Orleans
Logan Burke, Alliance for Affordable Energy & Thad Culley, Vote Solar

A Look at Comments to the City Council on a Renewable Portfolio Standard Casey DeMoss, PosiGen

A brief comparison of the various proposals under consideration: EFNO, Entergy, Council Advisors, etc.

Energy & You Webinar Series

Watch the Aug. 19th recording:

Take the Survey