The event featured performances by legendary artists Papa Mali, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Corey Glover, and New Orleans’ own, Leo Nocentelli. With nearly four decades of working towards a better Louisiana for everyone, it was our pleasure to celebrate with the community that keeps us going.
Our title sponsor, Courtyard Brewery, set us up for success and got us in gear with the creation of The Watch Dawg, a crisp Pale Ale sold exclusively at Courtyard while supplies last. Events like this only happen with community support, so The Alliance thanks each attendee, donor, and sponsor for your support.
Electricity is not a luxury item. It’s a crucial necessity that none of us can do without in today’s world. Unfortunately, for-profit utilities have a vested interest in earning money for their shareholders, in turn making energy unaffordable for many Louisianans. More than 149,000 Louisiana residents spend almost a quarter of their income on energy for their homes. The Alliance is the “Watchdog,” for them and all Louisianans, amplifying the voice of communities who bear the burden of rising electricity rates brought on by for-profit utility companies. While the utilities answer to their shareholders, as your watchdog, we answer to you: residents and business owners of Louisiana who should not bear the burden of unfair bill hikes.
Our work centers around consumer protection, clean energy, and energy efficiency. We advocate for clean energy because these same for-profit utilities often insist on generating our energy with fossil fuels, which are intensely harmful to public health and Louisiana’s environment. Our reliance on fossil fuels has also increased energy costs without improving reliability. While the shift to clean energy can feel like a puzzle, solving it is not as difficult as companies invested in fossil fuels would make you think. Another important factor: clean energy job growth is on the rise. While fossil fuel employment opportunities have been in decline in recent years, clean energy jobs are up on a global scale by 5%. In New Orleans alone, wind and solar jobs make up 52% of electric power generation job opportunities.
This past year we know many Louisianans have struggled to keep the lights on, often living under the threat of utility shutoff. The Alliance was born of the collective belief that Louisiana should be a place that people can continue to call home for generations to come. We have worked and will continue working alongside residents and allied organizations to give our regulators the tools that they need to bring down costs for Louisianans while strengthening our electric grid. We listen to your calls and read your messages, then take your concerns to the frontline demanding lower bills, cleaner energy solutions, good-paying jobs, and more reliable infrastructure. By speaking to our regulators and being involved in over 20 dockets at both the Louisiana Public Service Commission and the New Orleans City Council, we amplify the energy concerns of Louisianans in forums that can effect change. We speak with you, not for you. Together, we can create a power system that will bring opportunities to the Gulf South and help us celebrate all the things we love about our region!
The dynamic performances, including an encore with all of the night’s musicians, was not the sole celebration. Our raffle packages- valued at over $14,000 total- included amazing prizes from many local organizations (raffle sales have CLOSED but you can view the items here). We’d be remiss if we didn’t shout out congratulations to our raffle winners: Patsy, Frank, Christopher, and Jason!
Board President Sammy Wilcher was also honored with an Outstanding Dedication Award for his tireless support of The Alliance. Great change is accomplished by working together. Thank you for joining us in the fight for an affordable energy future that works for everyone. Though this year’s fundraiser is in the rear view, our efforts last year round. Keep up with where to find us next by subscribing to our newsletter, and if you’re already subscribed, remember to tell a friend. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!
And a final thank you to all of our sponsors and donors:
