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 at approximately 1,500 homes and 250 community institutions across New Orleans, Louisiana.
“This is a historic step toward protecting lives in New Orleans,” said Nathalie Jordi of community organization Together New Orleans. “Instead of waiting for the grid to fail again, the city is building neighborhood-level power that keeps people safe when it matters most.”
The Neighborhood Power Plan is the result of years of organizing and policy development led by Together New Orleans and the Alliance for Affordable Energy, in partnership with congregations, clinics, unions and neighborhood institutions across the city following Hurricane Ida.
“Today’s outcome proves that when residents organize around real solutions, city government can deliver,” said Sonya Norsworthy, Board President of Together New Orleans.
The Neighborhood Power Plan will be funded using Entergy settlement dollars, with costs recovered through existing Energy Smart mechanisms and no increase to customer utility rates.
Under the resolution, the city will launch a three-year DER program that includes $28 million in upfront incentives to install solar and battery systems with at least 40% of residential funding reserved for low-to-moderate income households.
After final bill passage 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
