ALLIANCE FOR AFFORDABLE ENERGY
REVIEW OF WORK SINCE KATRINA, RITA AND THE LEVEE FLOODS
Regulatory
Monitored New Orleans City Council Utility Committee meetings since February. Raised questions on rate increases with particular concerns about the strain on the 40% of ratepayers carrying the entire burden of increases predicted to cover utility restoration. Forced clarification of annual N.O. $90.6 million Grand Gulf nuclear contract being entered into fuel adjustment charge. Intervened in 25% rate increase request, worked with various Council consultants and other interveners to succeed in reducing this increase.
Contacted local and state leaders in support of CDBG funding to help Entergy New Orleans restore its system—as a ratepayer bailout.
Attended LSU Energy Center conference on Utility Infrastructure Rebuilding.
Pressed City Council to replace $6.9 million set aside for Public Benefits Fund (to fund energy efficiency programs) that was given to cash-strapped Entergy New Orleans (ENO) after the storms. Succeeded in getting commitment for such in October rate case settlement.
Began monitoring of ENO bankruptcy case, submitted comments to the judge.
Met with Alliance to Save Energy, American Public Power Association, Public Citizen, U.S. Green Building Council, Sullivan and Worcester Law Firm, and Senators Landrieu and Vitter aids in Washington DC. (ASE & Public Citizen are now official AAE partners)
Gave testimony before Nuclear Regulatory Commission tribunal at public hearing in Port Gibson, MS, Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station with regard to early site permitting process for possible building of new power plants at Grand Gulf.
Sustainable Rebuilding
Held first public workshop after Katrina (October 8, 2005) to design a platform for rebuilding Louisiana and New Orleans “clean, safe and green.”
Represented Alliance positions on various committees of Bring New Orleans Back plan.
Board member, Dr. Charles Reith, tirelessly sponsored and gave numerous lectures in New Orleans and around the state on sustainable energy, debris management and green rebuilding and ways to mitigate effects of global warming.
Organized and hosted green building caucuses, a Build Smart Expo, energy efficiency and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) workshops.
Proposed, organized and ran a design and workday at the Art Egg Bldg for the board of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
Held Sustainable Building Policy Summit, from which white papers are being produced for use by city government and City Council.
Guided a team from the American Institute of Architects through the creation and presentation of plans for an Eco Park adjacent to the Alliance office building.
Presented to Louisiana Recovery Authority on “Smart Energy Policies and Rebuilding Louisiana” and spoke on “Financial Incentives for Energy Efficient Rebuilding” at Mississippi Green Build Expo.
Provided new energy efficiency standards and green building definition included in the Qualified Application Plan used by developers to receive low-income housing tax credits
We are well underway with development of a BuildSmart Construction Resource Center.
Inaugurating the “greening” of the N.O. Home Show (end of March 2007)
Began term on Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Council (LA-UCCC) as Chair of implementation committee and as director of an RFP for a new computer system to help inspectors, contractors and builders more efficiently comply with the required new codes.
Sponsored Robert Wible from the Alliance for Building Regulatory Reform in the Digital Age in D.C. to address the LA-UCCC on National and International Best Practice in Code Offices.
Global Warming Mitigation
Invited and participated in a national media tour immediately post-Katrina.
Invited Louisiana leaders to hear Al Gore speak in March.
Organized Global Warming Luncheon for Louisiana leaders with Union of Concerned Scientists, Tulane Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research, and Project REACH of the United Methodist Church.
Hosted book-signings for “The Weathermakers” (Tim Flannery) and “The Ravaging Tide,” (Mike Tidwell) and a preview party with the Pfister Sisters for “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Sent over a dozen press releases and letters to the editor and organized media events, such as a large inflatable Earth on fire in Audubon Park.
Held two Stop Global Warming fundraisers with Fredy Omar con su Banda.
Alliance expert flown to DC by Energy Foundation to present to national organization on dangers and opportunities to address global warming.
Sent two Alliance representatives to DC to participate in Katrina anniversary demonstration in front of NOAA (national weather association), organized by USA Join the World.
Had 29 Louisiana organizations and businesses sign letter to Louisiana senators urging support of mandatory emissions reductions.
Helped New Orleans City Council pass a resolution supporting Global Warming Principles Statement to Congress.
Organized a “Save New Orleans, Stop Global Warming Frenchmen Street Block Party” and an “Energy Solutions Film Festival” to mark the International Day of Action on Global Warming and collected over 100 postcards to be sent to Congress urging immediate action to curb emissions.
Clean Energy
Created strong Net Metering Rules for New Orleans City Council and have monitored their progress to become the law.
LPSC adopted Net Metering Rules as per suggestions of Alliance.
Requested that LPSC adopt green pricing program and a Renewable Portfolio Standard.
Working with City Council to develop the programs and extra financing for new energy efficiency funds.
Encouraging City Council, advisors and ENO to adopt a Renewable Portfolio Standard.
Secured donation of a Fuelmeister, which converts used vegetable oil into biodiesel, to provide clean fuel for 1 RTA bus and 1 school bus and to offer biodiesel education and workshops including for La. Dept. of Natural Resources’ Clean Cities Coalition Conference.
MEDIA
Along the way, the Alliance has been recognized and written about not only by our local print and broadcast media, but also by national and international publications and broadcasts such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Cruthirds Report, Bloomberg Reports, Reuters News Service, National Public Radio, CBS and NBC affiliates in several cities, a Japanese daily, and the Greg Palast Political Commentary out of London.
BOARD, STAFF and OFFICE
Despite the loss of our office and several key staff, the Alliance boasts an eleven member Board of Directors, an Advisory Committee, four staff members, numerous volunteers and interns. Current staffers include regulatory affairs coordinator, sustainable rebuild coordinator, office manager and grant writer. Several attorneys and a consulting architect offer pro bono assistance. We are focusing on hiring a full-time Executive Director plus additional staff to help with all issues, and a complete array of administrative support.
We have returned to our newly renovated green office in the ArtEgg Studios,1001 S. Broad Street, Suite 202 and are seeking a permanent location for the Alliance’s 20 years of archives, including scanning (much already accomplished by Advisory Committee member, Tommy Milliner).
Alliance for Affordable Energy 1001 S. Broad Street, Ste. 202, New Orleans, LA 70125
1 comment:
How is that new office coming? I hope you were able to save or recover most of your documents. Thank you for your continued efforts at keeping energy affordable in this great state of Louisana. Entergy must be kept in check as the state government cannot be relied upon to do it on their own.
Thanks,
Don
affordable energy
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