NEW ORLEANS, LA - Today, the New Orleans City Council unanimously approved a $23.6 million incentive package that will provide hundreds of battery backups across New Orleans.

Resolution R-26-421, authored by Climate Change & Sustainability Committee Chair and District A Councilmember Aimee McCarron, provides batteries for roughly 800 homes and more than 200 businesses, with 40% of upfront funds reserved for low- and moderate-income households. Paired with the recently approved Community Solar incentives, this program creates a network of microgrids known colloquially as the Neighborhood Power Plan. This plan allows resources already located in our communities, like home batteries, to work together to support the grid.

“I am so proud to author this transformative legislation, which will provide relief when the lights go out from storms, during heat waves, or when the grid is strained,” said Councilmember McCarron. “This incentive package, paired with community solar, creates the nation’s most expansive virtual power plant. This is a new solution to these chronic problems, that is for the people and by the people.”

“This is exactly the kind of investment we should be making in our neighborhoods,” said Council President JP Morrell. “When the power goes out, families and businesses should not be left waiting for hours or days for relief. By putting battery storage directly in our neighborhoods, we are giving people another layer of protection while strengthening our entire electrical grid. As Utilities Chair, I’m especially proud that the Neighborhood Power Plan dedicates 40% of its upfront funding to low- and moderate-income households, helping make sure the communities that need this investment most can benefit from it.”

“Today, we approved the largest per-capita investment in distributed battery storage in the nation,” said Council Vice President Matthew Willard. “This puts New Orleans at the forefront of building a more resilient energy system, with the real impact felt in our neighborhoods, where families and businesses will have dependable backup when the power goes out. Our responsibility now is to make sure this program reaches the people it was designed to serve and delivers real results for New Orleanians.”

"When the grid goes down in August, it isn't an inconvenience. It's a public health emergency, especially for our seniors and neighbors who rely on medical equipment," said District B Councilmember Lesli Harris. "The Neighborhood Power Plan gives families a lifeline during outages and helps keep the whole grid stable when demand peaks. It's a smart and practical investment.”

“The Neighborhood Power Plan is a forward-thinking investment in New Orleans,” said District C Councilmember Freddie King III. “It brings greater energy resilience and backup power directly into our neighborhoods.”

“I am pleased that this Council continues to prioritize sustainability and environmental resilience and is backing that commitment with meaningful investment in our city’s energy system,” said District D Councilmember Eugene Green. “Importantly, this program places a strong emphasis on low- and moderate-income households, helping ensure that the benefits of a more resilient and sustainable energy system are accessible to residents throughout our City.”

The incentives for participation in this program are funded with proceeds from a settlement with Entergy New Orleans. The Neighborhood Power Plan stems from a partnership with Together New Orleans, Alliance for Affordable Energy, and many others. The batteries in the Neighborhood Power Plan serve multiple purposes. During an outage, they can provide backup power directly to homes that have them while the larger grid is being restored. And when the grid is under stress, they can be coordinated to reduce demand and provide additional capacity when it is needed most. For homes with solar panels, batteries can also store excess solar power harvested during the day and cut costs by freeing users from grid power costs overnight.