Energy is intertwined with Louisiana’s economic, environmental, coastal, and social identity, the Alliance for Affordable Energy is the leading organization developing policy solutions to bring affordable, clean energy to every resident in the state, while addressing our most troubling energy concerns. Our work focuses on policy change at the New Orleans City Council and the Louisiana Public Service Commission.
As climate change alters our physical landscape, Louisiana must address the underlying cause the problem that our current energy system is helping to create. The Alliance aims to move our “energy state” into a 21st century energy economy. We work to reduce energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and add modern, renewable, efficient, and clean energy options throughout the state. These solutions will change our energy identity and create balanced development that will help our economy thrive, sustain our communities, create well-paying jobs, and ensure a healthy future for Louisiana.
The Alliance is the sole entity expressly dedicated to defending the interests of residents and small businesses who want to see a clean and affordable energy future, where health impacts are considered alongside environmental and economic opportunity costs. We work to ensure residents don’t pay more than their fair share. No other organization is connecting the dots among these issues for residents and working to change policy to improve consumers lives. We are leading a groundswell of change by educating consumers, decision-makers, and utilities.
Louisiana residents currently use 30% more electricity her household than the average American, largely as a result of inefficient and aging housing stock. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is finally firming up rules for mature energy efficiency programs across the state. We are advocating for the state to adopt rules that would dramatically cut our energy waste for all customers, which would mitigate the need for new gas fired power plants.
New Orleans is nearly a decade ahead of the rest of the state, as a result of our work on Energy Efficiency policy. Despite continued growth in customers over the last 5 years, (30,000 new residential customers in New Orleans since 2014) residential sales are flat and declining. This means we are getting more out of every kWh generated in the city, and deferring the need for new fossil generation.
In response to grassroots advocacy led by The Alliance, the New Orleans City Council has created a rulemaking process to develop the first Renewable Portfolio standard in the region. This will require the electric utility to steadily increase the percentage of energy generated by renewable energy, thereby displacing traditional fossil fuels. The effort thereby aims to mitigate our impact on the climate, while ensuring equity for all customers and strengthen our resilience in the face of increasing climate impact realities. More info on the Renewable Portfolio standard is available at EFNO.org
The Alliance was successful in helping craft rules that allow communities in New Orleans to invest in and share community-owned renewables projects. The rules include carve-outs to ensure low-income customers have access to this solar resource, with virtual net energy metering to ensure a reduction in their energy bills. We are now working with the Council and utility on consumer protection measures so that customers get the best information available before subscribing.
The Alliance recently represented New Orleans residential interests in the first full rate-setting proceeding in a decade. With a team of legal and technical experts, we advocated for thoughtful rate design that encourages more energy savings, reduces energy burdens, and gives residents the power to reduce their energy bills. Nearly all of our recommendations were approved by the Council, saving New Orleans customers millions of dollars annually and reducing millions of pounds of greenhouse gasses.
This year, all four investor owned utilities in Louisiana have been conducting stakeholder processes for their 20-year energy resource plan, on which all major power generation and energy efficiency investment decisions are meant to be based. We are advocating for the most cost effective energy solutions: energy efficiency and other demand side solutions. We are also watching to ensure clean and renewable energy is being modeled on a fair playing field against the utility’s preferred fossil fueled plants. Thus far, all utilities are showing plans for increased renewable resources over the next two decades, with limited new fossil fueled generation across the state. We continue to intervene as new gas plants are introduced to fight against all new GHG polluting resources in our fragile state. The Alliance was instrumental in the development and passage of public Integrated Resource Planning rules. Before our advocacy, utility planning was conducted behind a veil of secrecy, and without input from stakeholders.
The Alliance currently receives direct funding from the Energy Foundation, the Merck Family Foundation, the US Climate Action Network, the Clean Energy Project, the New World Foundation, National Audubon Society, and around 200 local members. We receive legal and technical support from Earthjustice, National Resources Defense Council, Regulatory Assistance Project, the Energy Futures Group, Clean Energy Group, and GridLab. Our budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 is $295,000.
The Alliance partners with a wide array of local organizations: Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, VAYLA, Justice and Beyond, Green Coast Enterprises, 350 New Orleans, Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy, Tulane Environmental Law Clinic, Water Collaborative, Bucket Brigade, Center for Equitable and Sustainable Design, Louisiana Public Health Institute, Loyola Environmental Law and Policy Program, Healthy Gulf, Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association And national organizations: Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned Scientists, National Housing Trust, Clean Energy Group, Sierra Club, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Southern Wind Alliance, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, Solar Energy Industry Association, US Climate Action Network, Southeast Climate Action Network
