Today, the New Orleans City Council unanimously approved legislation finalizing an agreement between the City and Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) to construct the West Power Complex, a dedicated power source for SWBNO's drainage and water operations.

The substation will provide newer, cleaner, more reliable energy to SWBNO at a total cost of $30 million. The Council approved a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) to construct the new electrical substation during a special meeting this morning.

“The combined age of SWBNO’s power turbines is 377 years old. We cannot continue to rely on ancient equipment,” said District A Councilmember Joe Giarrusso. “This game-changing project exemplifies what happens when you roll up your sleeves and do the hard work to solve one of the most serious and long-standing infrastructure problems in the city of New Orleans.”

“People told us it wasn’t possible to land this substation when we started the working group to bring the SWBNO, City, and Entergy together more than two years ago,” said Council President Helena Moreno. “Yet, here we are after two-plus years of hard work and collaboration, finally funding a substation that will reduce SWBNO’s emissions, stop boil water and flood emergencies due to power failures, and transform SWBNO’s operations forever. I’m proud of the work of our teams, my colleagues, and our community, who have all helped turn doubt into transformative progress.”

“Just as our city has evolved over the past 300 years, so should our sewerage and water systems,” said Council Vice President JP Morrell. “Securing funding for this electrical substation is critical to bringing our city’s infrastructure into the 21st century. I am grateful for all parties coming together to create a viable, sustainable solution for our residents.”

You can read the full CEA here.