NEW ORLEANS - Today, Council President and Utilities Chair Helena Moreno announced the final committee vote on the Council's Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard (RCPS), which would end emissions from Entergy New Orleans power generation by 2050, reaching net-zero emissions in 2040. Entergy New Orleans would be required to serve New Orleans customers with 100% clean power thereafter.

"This new policy will begin a rapid transition towards clean and renewable energy and away from fossil fuels. We simply can't wait - we must take strong climate action today. I believe that this climate action plan is bold, obtainable, and most importantly swift," said Council President Moreno. "With these rules, New Orleans will be the first territory in the gulf south and among the national leaders in confronting the generational challenge of climate change and helping secure a 100% clean and more resilient power future for us all.”

NEW ORLEANS - Today, the Community Development Committee heard a central staff presentation requested by Council President Helena Moreno to reopen the Council's Chamber for in-person public meetings. The plan, approved by the City's Chief Health Officer, Dr. Jennifer Avegno, allows for a maximum capacity of 30-40 members of the public and requires face coverings for all attendees. Council Chambers has also been modified and outfitted with plexiglass safety barriers and social distancing mitigations to help protect attendees.

NEW ORLEANS - Today, Council President Helena Moreno advanced her legislation to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips, a widely supported harm reduction measure to save lives in New Orleans. Fentanyl-laced drugs are one of the leading causes of overdoses in New Orleans and throughout the country. Testing strips to determine the presence of fentanyl are currently banned by the City Code.

NEW ORLEANS - During the Council’s Criminal Justice Committee meeting tomorrow morning, members will hear historical and analytical perspectives on cannabis enforcement in New Orleans brought forth at the request of Council President Helena Moreno. The presentation by the Vera Institute’s Will Snowden and Council Criminal Justice Analyst Jeff Asher will highlight the persistent racial inequities in cannabis enforcement and the harm those inequities pose to communities of color.

NEW ORLEANS - Today, Council President and Utilities Chair Helena Moreno signaled her intention to bring forward a prudence investigation of Entergy New Orleans’ (ENO) actions around the 2021 Mardi Gras Blackout, or load shedding event. Moreno did so after formally receiving a preliminary report from the Council’s expert utility team outlining initial findings of critical technical and operational issues within the ENO’s real-time response to the event.