NEW ORLEANS - Tomorrow, Utility, Cable, Telecommunications and Technology Committee (UCTT) Chair Helena Moreno will introduce a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) resolution at the UCTT Committee hearing, setting forth the process to create the Gulf South's first portfolio standard that would require all new power generation to come from carbon-free sources. New Orleans would be the first territory in the Gulf South to employ an RPS to vastly accelerate the transition to clean energy moving forward.

"A Renewable Portfolio Standard is a climate game-changer for our city and for our region moving forward," said Councilmember Moreno. "New Orleans is on the frontline of climate change and it requires urgent action. The EPA estimates that power generation currently contributes up to a third of greenhouse gas emissions nationwide. To this end, the RPS is a cornerstone of the city's strategy. Through collaborative action with our partners in the public and private sectors and an assertive policy direction like an RPS, we know that New Orleans can extinguish its reliance on carbon-intensive generation. Future generations are counting on our action now."

"This is important because it shows two things: a commitment to renewable energy and a commitment to action," said Councilmember Joe Giarrusso. "It is not enough to talk about this, we also need to set clear guidelines so we can measure success. We want the public to be a part of this discussion and process."

"I am very pleased to be moving forward with the creation of the Council's own renewable portfolio standard to guide our pursuit of a more robust renewables portfolio," said Council President Jason Williams. "The City Council has long promoted expansion of renewables locally in a way that strikes an equitable balance of diversifying our energy sources while maintaining reasonable energy rates. This standard will aid this body in reinforcing its prior mandates and create a space to explore new ways to improve reliability."

Currently, 29+ states and territories currently employ an RPS to mandate some level of clean power generation. The City's Climate action strategy published in 2017set a goal of reducing New Orleans' annual greenhouse gas pollution by 50% by 2030. It notes that an RPS is a key policy in helping drive renewable energy development across the United States and provides a flexible, all-sources approach to meeting these goals with the best available technology.

The RPS resolution sets forth a procedural schedule for gathering information about a definitive standard and for eventually setting that standard through a public, transparent process in order to engage the maximum breadth of stakeholders. It will be introduced and considered at tomorrow's UCTT Committee hearing, which can be streamed at council.nola.gov.

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Contact:

Andrew Tuozzolo

Chief of Staff

Office of Councilmember-at-Large Helena Moreno

AVTuozzolo@nola.gov

504.281.9882