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New Orleans, LA
October 8, 2009: New Orleans receives Recovery Act funding for Solar America Cities Special Projects.
The Solar America Cities project in New Orleans is unique because of the unprecedented rebuilding of the city. The New Orleans Office of Recovery Management and its partners have a great opportunity to encourage solar in the city’s energy marketplace. During the reconstruction process the city has a chance to structurally alter the ways in which solar energy technologies are regulated, incentivized, produced, and consumed in the Greater New Orleans area. This effort is part of New Orleans’ larger vision of becoming a model sustainable city.
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Credit:RenewableEnergyAccess.com
This 1.5-kW PV (solar electric) system is one of ten donated to New Orleans residents by the Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group.
Credit:VirtualTourist.com
French Quarter side street
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Activities
In this project, New Orleans plans to accelerate its adoption of solar technology by including solar technology in the construction and renovation of new homes and businesses, wherever applicable and economically feasible.
- Implement a publicity and outreach plan to increase demand for private solar energy.
- Evaluate and modify city regulations limiting the use of solar energy technologies.
- Install solar systems on city government properties.
- Develop incentives that support solar technology in residential developments.
- Conduct outreach and training to develop a solar supply base in New Orleans.
Partners
- The Alliance for Affordable Energy
- City of New Orleans Office of Recovery Management (Project Lead)
- FutureProof
- Global Green
Third Party Solar Tax Credit ImplementationThe City will develop guidelines for public entities and tax-exempt institutions to take advantage of the state tax credit via third party financing.
Sustainable Energy Financing District ImplementationFollowing the passage of authorizing legislation by the state, the City will implement a sustainable energy financing program that allows customers to pay off a solar system through a long term assessment on their property tax bill.
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