NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans Office of Resilience & Sustainability (ORS) completed training for the first-ever cohort of Community Energy Advisors (CEAs), who will provide assistance across the City in the areas of solar installation, electrification, and energy efficiency. This year’s inaugural cohort consists of 10 participants who will support low-to-moderate-income households in accessing financial incentives to upgrade homes and appliances—ultimately reducing long-term energy costs and increasing the livability and resilience of those homes.
“We are incredibly proud of these outstanding individuals and the contributions they will make to reducing energy costs for the New Orleans community,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Their work will have a meaningful and lasting impact on all New Orleanians.”
The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. This funding provides opportunities for New Orleanians to actively participate in connecting their neighbors to vital clean energy resources.
The Community Energy Advisors (CEAs) will assist people in their neighborhood as they navigate different tax incentives and rebates and provide hands on assistance to residents when requested. The Community Energy Advisors (CEAs) completed three training sessions covering a range of clean energy topics, including:
- Climate change, sustainability, and resilience principles and policies
- Residential energy efficiency and electrification incentive opportunities
- Solar and back up battery power systems programs and incentives
“The Community Energy Advisors are going to bridge a critical gap in multiple New Orleans neighborhoods,” said Deputy Chief Resilience Officer and Director of the Office of Resilience & Sustainability Greg Nichols. “They’ll help connect residents to incentives and resources that can lead to long-term savings on utility costs.”
The network of Community Energy Advisors (CEAs) is expected to hold regular office hours at centrally located public spaces, between 5 to 14 hours each month and are available to attend neighborhood and community meetings to discuss energy resources and provide information on office hours. These office hours will provide opportunities for community members to engage with CEAs and discuss energy-related concerns.
More information about the Community Advisor Program and the Community Energy Advisors Network is available here: https://nola.gov/next/
To schedule an event with a Community Energy Advisor, reach out to Communityenergy@nola.gov.