About the Alliance

The Alliance is a non-profit, public interest, membership organization dedicated to creating fair, affordable, environmentally responsible, community-based energy policies for Louisiana and the nation. Founded in 1985, today the Alliance serves Louisiana's 1.8 million electric and gas rate payers by promoting citizen participation in the decision-making process, conducting community education campaigns on energy issues, helping citizens and businesses become more energy efficient, and working together for lower energy bills.

By becoming a member of the Alliance, you can become involved in making a difference. You'll also receive quarterly issues of the Alliance newsletter, Bright Ideas. Each issue contains news and information which affects rate payers, as well as practical advice for lowering your energy bills.

A short list of the Alliance's past accomplishments and recent projects demonstrates that the Alliance has accomplished more, in less time, with fewer resources, in a more difficult arena, than practically any comparable organization in the U.S. The Alliance has:

Proposed the New Orleans Least Cost Resource Planning Ordinance that has resulted in over 11,000 homes being insulated and/or weatherized.

• Represented your consumer rights before the Louisiana Public Service Commission and the New Orleans City Council in over thirty utility regulatory and rate-making proceedings.
  

• Obtained a $476 million judgment for ratepayers over utility management errors and cost overruns at the Grand Gulf nuclear power plant.
  

• Secured the return of $70 million to ratepayers from a natural gas legal settlement.
  

• Negotiated on your behalf with Entergy and the City Council of New Orleans to secure the return to ratepayers of $144 million of over-charges and over collections. This accomplishment represents the largest general refunding of any kind in the history of New Orleans.
  

• Overturned an anti-consumer "electrification" campaign by local utilities designed to fool ratepayers into switching from low-cost gas water heaters to high-cost electric ones.
  

• Won national recognition for excellence for our Least Cost Energy Educational Community Outreach program.
  

• Conducted Children's Energy Education Workshops that have helped thousands of kids become energy savers and advocates for clean energy.
  

• Co-chaired the Global Climate Change Legislative Commission studying the effects of global climate change on Louisiana.
  

• Spearheaded the Southern Strategy, a consortium of the South's most influential energy organizations, to develop a regional response to the effects of global climate change.
  

The Alliance provides services directly to its members and the community through "hands-on" workshops, publications, by providing information on the best ways to save energy and by giving people an opportunity to make a difference.

Board of Directors:

Karen F. Wimpelberg,
Founder & President
Sallie Davis, Secretary
Miriam Brown, Treasurer
Una Anderson
Pam Dasheill
Tina Freeman
Thomas P. Lowenburg, Founder
Charles Reith
Doug Meffert, Ph.D. Env., MBA
Amelia L. Ravin, AICP, LEED AP
Lea Young

Honorary Board:

*Gayle Gagliano
*Irwin Isaacson
*Rev. Dr. Climon J. Smith
*Gary L. Groesch
*Betty Wisdom

Advisory Committee:

Geoff Baldwin
Vern Baxter, Ph.D.
Ron Cuccia
Mildred Fossier
John Koeferl
Steven Lindsley
David Marcello
Thomas Milliner
Mary Lee Orr
Julianna D. Padgett
Stuart I. Phillips, M.D.
Katherine B. Senter
Mike Thibodeaux

Climate & Clean Energy Director
John Atkeison

Sustainable Rebuild Coordinator
Forest Bradley-Wright

Regulatory Affairs Coordinator
and Board President
Karen F. Wimpelberg