Utility Committee Meeting Tomorrow - Wednesday 2/25

​Read to learn about the New Orleans Integrated Resource Plan!

A Vision for New Orleans’ Energy Future
Tomorrow, the New Orleans City Council will decide on whether or not to accept Entergy’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The Alliance for Affordable Energy, and the Council’s Advisors have provided comments on the IRP but tomorrows vote will determine whether or not Entergy must address or implement these suggested changes. Join the Alliance for Affordable Energy in calling for a plan that will lower energy bills while expanding energy efficiency and promoting cleaner sources of power.

Read to learn about the New Orleans Integrated Resource Plan!

What is an IRP?
The Integrated Resource Plan is an open, public process through which all relevant supply-side and demand-side resources (including energy efficiency), and the factors influencing choice among them are investigated for the optimal set of resources to meet current and future electric service needs at the lowest total cost to the utility and its customers, in a manner consistent with the long-run public interest, given the expected combination of costs, risks and uncertainty

What does the IRP mean for New Orleans?
The IRP is the guiding vision for New Orleans’ energy policy over the next twenty years. It is meant to provide the clearest picture possible of how we will meet our energy needs through a combination of traditional power supplies AND INCLUDING energy efficiency and renewable energy. While the plan will be revisited and refined every few years, the IRP is a blueprint for making decisions on which energy resources will be chosen when investing ratepayer resources. The optimal plan means lower energy bills and the transition to cleaner sources of energy.

How do energy efficiency and renewable energy presently fit into the IRP?
Entergy New Orleans recognizes that energy efficiency is the least expensive resource for meeting our energy needs. Its proposal supports continuing programs like Energy Smart over the entire 20-year planning period and includes a modest budget increase for efficiency rebate programs. The Alliance believes that low cost energy efficiency in New Orleans has much more potential and supports an approach that captures higher levels of savings to levels that are in line with successful efforts all over the country. The current Entergy plan includes no renewable energy additions, How renewable energy resources are modeled in the planning process needs additional review and public feedback.

How does the Public participate in the IRP?
There are three important ways that you can contribute to the energy planning effort:

1. Attend the public hearing on Wednesday, September 24 starting at 10:00am at City Hall (1600 Perdido st). The hearing will take place in the Council Chamber Room.
2. This meeting will provide the public with the opportunity to provide feedback to the City Council on big picture priorities, concerns, and recommendations for improving the IRP.
3. Let our Council members know the citizens of New Orleans want a better energy plan for their city and their family. Submit an email to the members of the City Council Utility Committee and let them know:
   1. You support significantly increasing budgets for New Orleans energy smart energy efficiency program
   2. Want the city to commit to pursuing renewable energy options
   3. Entergy must be required to properly and transparently analyze any proposed new power plants and truly evaluate energy efficiency on a level playing field.

 

• Submit emails to City Council Utility Committee Members:

 

•     Cynthia Hedge-Morrell: chmorrell@nola.gov; 504-658-1040

 

•     Stacy Head: shead@nola.gov;

 

•     Susan Guidry: sgguidry@nola.gov; 504-658-1010

 

•     Kristen Gisleson Palmer: kgpalmer@nola.gov; 504-658-1030

Alliance for Affordable Energy
2327 St. Claude Ave. Ste. 300A New Orleans, LA-Phone: 504-208-9761 http://www.all4energy.org