Blog Archives

No free passes to polluters. The LDEQ needs to hear from you!

7/26/2023

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) is preparing rules for the voluntary environmental self-audit program. This program allows industrial companies to voluntarily report their permit violations to LDEQ and places limits on the fines/fees imposed for violations.

The law allowing for this self-auditing process passed last year, but now the LDEQ is also considering keeping the details of these permit violations confidential by not requiring companies to submit full environmental audit reports unless officially requested by the agency. That means companies could pollute, violate their permits and avoid fees, all while leaving neighboring residents in the dark about it.

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Coastal communities should share in the benefits of offshore wind power

7/25/2023

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Last week, The Alliance’s New Orleans Policy Director Jesse George spoke with FOX8 about the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s recent notice of a public lease sale for offshore wind power in the Gulf of Mexico. While the story reflected our disappointment with the terms of the lease sale, it left out crucial context regarding the reason for that disappointment.

The Alliance has long advocated that offshore wind power is vital to a just transition to a renewable energy economy for Louisiana. We also know that poor, Black, and Indigenous communities along the coast have paid the heaviest toll from the extractive activities of the oil and gas industry, as well as experiencing the worst effects of the climate change that our dependence on fossil fuels has caused.

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Wasting energy and wasting time…mostly.

7/23/2023

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By Logan Burke, AAE's Executive Director

Louisiana is wasting time, money, and energy. Our households have the highest electricity usage in the nation. But it isn’t our fault. States around the country have implemented effective solutions to reduce energy waste and lower utility bills through energy efficiency programs. Unfortunately, despite efforts at the Louisiana Public Service Commission since 2009, Louisiana residents and businesses still only have anemic programs available to mitigate their rising energy costs.

This month, the Commission received stakeholder input on a new draft energy efficiency rule that could streamline a universal state-wide efficiency program under a single administrator.

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SWEPCO got approval for new solar resources. Why did the LPSC take so long to approve it?

7/20/2023

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By Jessica Hendricks, AAE's State Policy Director

SWEPCO’s application for 999 MW of solar and wind generation capacity was heard by Louisiana Public Service Commissioners at the May and June meetings. Then the Commission held a special meeting in late June to re-hear it. The point of contention was over ownership. SWEPCO only sought projects they would own, allowing them to earn a rate of return, or profit, increasing the cost of the energy for ratepayers.

The Commission wanted to see the costs (and benefits) of SWEPCO’s application for owned generation compared to a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in which SWEPCO would simply buy power from a renewable power producer to ensure ratepayers were getting the best value.

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Are you having issues with Entergy New Orleans?

7/13/2023

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Entergy New Orleans (ENO) customers with grievances can submit a formal complaint to the New Orleans City Council using the utility complaint form recently added to their website.

As a ratepayer you have the right to “safe and reliable service in accordance with industry standards,” guaranteed to you by the utility Ratepayer Bill of Rights. The Alliance for Affordable Energy and Citizens for Change worked with the New Orleans City Council and ENO to develop this Ratepayer Bill of Rights, and in 2007 the Council codified it into law.

The law states: “If you feel that the Utility has violated your rights or is in violation of its Customer Service Regulations, you have the right to participate in the Customer Complaint and Dispute Resolution Process."

The Alliance encourages you to exercise your rights as a ratepayer and take advantage of this dispute resolution process if needed; and as your consumer advocate we're here to help.

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The Watchdog

No free passes to polluters. The LDEQ needs to hear from you!

Coastal communities should share in the benefits of offshore wind power

Wasting energy and wasting time…mostly.

SWEPCO got approval for new solar resources. Why did the LPSC take so long to approve it?

Are you having issues with Entergy New Orleans?

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