20% Renewable Energy by 2020!
- by: 350 Louisiana
- recipient: New Orleans City Council Utility Commission
We urge the New Orleans City Council Utility Commission, through the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), to mandate that Entergy New Orleans (ENO) obtain at least 20% of energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. We also request that ENO factor in external costs of burning fossil fuels in their cost projections for providing energy to ratepayers.
New Orleans is currently a national solar energy leader, ranking in the top 10 per capita solar capacity of US cities. Solar now accounts for approximately 5% of the city's energy - an important step towards meeting our 20% goal. This tremendous progress is commendable, but the attempt to end our solar energy tax credits by Entergy and the state legislature threatens NOLA's clean energy leadership.
Despite the success of residential solar, the IRP does not plan for utility-scale renewable energy in its 20 year plan. It is unwise on the part of ENO to rely almost entirely on natural gas and other fossil fuels to produce our energy. Rising gas prices translate to higher energy bills, and burning fossil fuels causes climate change, which poses a very serious threat to coastal Louisiana. Climate change-induced sea level rise could submerge the city by 2050.
To guarantee clean, reliable and affordable energy for years to come, New Orleans needs a diverse, renewable energy portfolio. We demand a transition to a clean energy economy.
We urge the New Orleans City Council Utility Commission, through the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), to mandate that Entergy New Orleans (ENO) obtain at least 20% of energy needs from renewable sources by 2020. We also request that ENO factor in external costs of burning fossil fuels in their cost projections for providing energy to ratepayers.
New Orleans is currently a national solar energy leader, ranking in the top 10 per capita solar capacity of US cities. Solar now accounts for approximately 5% of the city's energy portfolio- an important step towards meeting our 20% goal. This tremendous progress is commendable, but the attempt to dismantle solar energy tax credits by Entergy and the state legislature threatens the pace of solar penetration.
Despite the success of residential solar, the IRP does not plan for utility-scale renewable energy in its 20 year plan. It is unwise on the part of ENO to rely almost entirely on natural gas and other fossil fuels to produce our energy. Rising gas prices translate to higher energy bills, and burning fossil fuels causes climate change, which poses a very serious threat to coastal Louisiana. Climate change-induced sea level rise could submerge the city by 2050.
To guarantee clean, reliable and affordable energy for years to come, New Orleans needs a diverse, renewable energy portfolio. We demand a transition to a clean energy economy.
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