New Orleans churches and community centers are being outfitted with backup and solar power to create a microgrid for residents during the city’s frequent outages. But that’s not the only value they offer.
The culprit in the May 2025 “loadshed event” in New Orleans was Louisiana’s under-developed electric grid. An upcoming grid analysis will identify grid weaknesses, its vulnerability to extreme weather – and solutions that will help us all plan for a more secure future.
A bill on its way to the Governor’s desk—with connections to gas industry allies—could enshrine hydrocarbons as Louisiana’s future.
Though Councilmembers were swayed by job creation, critics said that the jobs pale in comparison to the rate increases and environmental effects that Orleans residents will now shoulder.
The Sisters of the Holy Family are constructing solar panels on the order’s New Orleans East motherhouse, to create the city’s 12th solar-driven Community Lighthouse – and, over on Dwyer Road, they’re installing solar panels to reduce their neighbors’ Entergy bills.
The resolution, which the company has agreed to, now goes to the full council for final approval.
The council is planning to rebid a contract to do a management audit into Entergy New Orleans, after the first bid received zero responses.
The company also claims to have made major improvements since it accidentally cut power to thousands of customers during Mardi Gras 2021.
Councilwoman Moreno questioned the authenticity of Cantrell’s objections, asking whether they were simply “a delay tactic.”
Experts who spoke to The Lens said that the practice effectively insulates shareholders from risk, shifting it to ‘captive customers.’ But Entergy insists that the payments encourage investment, lowering borrowing costs and ultimately benefiting its customers.
