NEW ORLEANS — Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno announced the launch of New Orleans’ first Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Program, a $28 million investment that will place hundreds of solar-tied batteries across the city to dramatically improve grid reliability, sustainability, and community resilience, without placing additional costs on ratepayers.
The initiative marks a major milestone in a new approach to grid reliability that began after Hurricane Ida exposed the devastating consequences of widespread power failures. In the wake of that storm, the Council committed to doing things differently by redefining what reliable electricity means by investing not only in poles and wires, but directly in our communities.
As plans to strengthen the grid took shape, both on the utility side and at the community level, New Orleans did something no other jurisdiction has done: scaled resilience investments without passing the costs on to customers.
That commitment continues with this new DER Program, serving as an unprecedented investment in community-focused sustainability. Nearly $30 million will support battery installations that help customers lower energy bills, maximize the use of clean energy, and provide sturdy backstops during outages, storms, and emergencies.
Distributed energy resources (“DER”), aggregate battery systems installed at homes, businesses, and community institutions. These systems ease strain on the grid during periods of peak demand, store clean solar energy for later use, and provide critical backup power during outages. By decentralizing electricity generation, DERs reduce reliance on single points of failure and strengthen neighborhoods during storms, heat waves, and other extreme events.
After months of collaboration with advocates and stakeholders, including the Alliance for Affordable Energy, Together New Orleans, Entergy New Orleans, and advisors, the Council is formally launching the City’s first DER Program. The initiative combines upfront incentives for new batteries at homes and businesses with ongoing credits that reflect the value these systems provide to the grid by reducing peak demand, storing solar energy overnight, and supporting the grid during outages.
Over the coming years, the DER Program will help hundreds of families, many from lower-income households disproportionately impacted by rising energy costs, as well as small businesses and community institutions, secure long-term sustainability while building a stronger, more resilient electric system.
This represents the largest single investment in community-led sustainability in New Orleans’ history. It recognizes that the modern electric grid has changed—and that regulators and leaders must change with it by embracing new technologies and strategies to keep the lights on and protect residents in an increasingly uncertain climate.
“After Hurricane Ida, we made a commitment to change the game on grid reliability in New Orleans, to do things differently and to invest not just in traditional infrastructure but directly in our communities. This nearly $30 million Distributed Energy Resource program is the result of that commitment. By placing hundreds of batteries across the city, we are strengthening resiliency, expanding access to clean energy, and building real backstops for families and small businesses during outages and emergencies without putting new costs on ratepayers. This is the largest single investment in community-led sustainability New Orleans has ever made, and it reflects how the modern grid has changed and how we must change with it,” said Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno and Chair of the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee.
“In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, it was clear that we needed to reimagine how the grid serves our residents both daily and during storms. The Distributed Energy Resource program will place hundreds of batteries across the city that will lower energy bills, expand clean energy, and provide a safety net for residents during extreme weather events, from hurricanes to heat waves. This investment is an acknowledgement that our energy needs are shifting, and the City is committed to protecting residents from outages,” said Council President JP Morrell.
“Investing in clean, renewable energy and modern grid solutions helps reduce long-term costs, strengthens reliability during extreme flooding and Hurricanes, and ensures that sustainability and equity are built into how we power our city. These steps move us from planning to action and position New Orleans to lead on climate resilience,” said Councilmember Lesli Harris.
“The residents and communities of our city deserve enhanced reliability and efficiency in the delivery of energy services. This investment, which will result in enhanced grid strength and reliability, while not imposing additional costs on ratepayers in this challenging economic climate, is good news,” said Councilmember Eugene Green.
“Reliability can no longer mean hoping the lights stay on after the next storm—it has to mean building power systems that are strong, flexible, and rooted in our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Oliver Thomas. “This Distributed Energy Resource Program is about changing how we think about reliability in New Orleans. By investing directly in homes, small businesses, and community institutions, we are reducing strain on the grid, lowering costs for families, and creating real backup power where it’s needed most—without passing new costs on to ratepayers. This is what forward-thinking, people-centered infrastructure looks like.”
“Today’s vote puts New Orleans families first,” said Shannon Anderson from Solar United Neighbors. “By investing in solar and battery systems that protect households during outages — without raising utility rates — the City is making clean energy more affordable, more reliable, and accessible to the people who need it most.”
”This decision sends a strong signal that New Orleans is open for business,” said Monika Gerhart, Executive Director of the Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association. “A clear, well-designed program to address reliability and affordability creates marketplace certainty that can leverage investment and deploy the installers, manufacturers, and partners to deliver real resilience benefits to our community.”
The resolution will be heard for final passage at the December 18, 2025 City Council meeting in City Council Chambers located at 1300 Perdido Street beginning at 10:00 a.m. Meetings are open to the public and can be watched live at www.council.nola.gov/live.