Together New Orleans with New Orleans City Council Members and the Alliance for Affordable Energy pose after a Sept. 23, 2026 vote to advance a backup battery incentive program [Photo credit: New Orleans City Council]

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The New Orleans City Council has cleared the way for a new backup battery program that advocates say will help keep the lights on at homes, businesses and community sites when the grid goes down.

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In 2021, Hurricane Ida knocked out eight transmission lines and 31,000 utility poles in Louisiana. This left 1 million people without power, with some outages lasting several weeks. In the heat wave that followed, 10 people died without air conditioning.

Launched only six weeks earlier, Together New Orleans solidi­fied a clear vision after Ida: They would organize “resilience hubs” powered by solar energy within a 15-minute walk of every resident in Southeast Louisiana. The hubs, called “community lighthouses,” would provide charging stations during power outages, invite residents to cooling stations during heat waves, and offer food during emergencies….

Years after Together New Orleans (TNO) began organizing for Community Solar, New Orleans City Council voted unanimously to support consolidated billing.

The New Orleans City Council unanimously approved the Neighborhood Power Plan - a $30 million proposal by Together New Orleans (TNO) and allies to strengthen the local power grid by installing solar batteries at over 1,600 homes, community facilities and businesses.

Funded with Entergy settlement dollars, the plan will not increase utility rates.

According to The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, New Orleans Mayor Elect Helena Moreno called the endeavor "the largest single investment in community-led sustainability the city has ever made."

With tens of thousands left in the dark across Northern Louisiana, Delta Interfaith and Together Louisiana swiftly mobilized to keep their neighbors safe.

Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, Together Louisiana's Community Lighthouse strategy is being recognized as a national model for disaster preparedness. Bloomberg News highlighted the initiative for "strengthening the capacity of local communities to respond to emergencies."

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most catastrophic storms in U.S. history, displacing millions and leaving many in oppressive heat without power or clean water. One of those displaced was Bianchi Hughes, who was just nine years old when she and her mother fled to Mississippi. They had to leave her father behind at a hospital that later flooded and permanently shut down after its generators failed.

Now, Hughes serves as a leader and the director of disaster relief with Together Louisiana. 

Together Louisiana led the charge to ensure Black representation in Congress after the legislature failed to draw districting maps that reflected recent demographic changes. 2020 Census data showed the black population of Louisiana increased while the white population decreased. Nonetheless, the state maintained five white and one black U.S. congress members. Despite consistent requests from residents to redraw congressional lines and create the opportunity to elect a second black congressperson, the legislature refused. 

On Sunday, July 13 at Dillard University, delegations from across New Orleans gathered to define the future of their city.

In a resounding display of grassroots power and civic resolve, 600 leaders from 29 Together New Orleans (TNO) member organizations and 50 guest organizations united for a citywide assembly to ratify a non-partisan platform for the upcoming city elections. 

Dr. JC Richardson, Pastor of Wesley UMC and Together Baton Rouge/Together LA leader, speaks at press conference before the defeat of four proposed constitutional amendments, including Amendment 3 which would have tried more children as adults.

After Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry's failed attempt to rewrite the constitution to change state tax and budget laws in 2024, the legislature voted to put his four proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot.  Reports indicated that an election in March was chosen to take advantage of projected low turnout (only 12%). 

Leaders from Westside Sponsoring Committee, Pointe Coupee United Together, and their sister Together Louisiana (TLA) organizations opposed all four measures but targeted Amendment 3 which, if passed, would have given the legislature power to try children as young as 10 for unspecified adult crimes. When legislators were pressed on what those crimes would be, their response was "just trust us"!

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Beating drums and ringing bells, dozens of advocates and religious leaders gathered on the steps of New Orleans City Hall Thursday to urge local officials and Entergy to quickly move forward on a "virtual power plant" plan for backup clean energy during outages and hurricanes.

Together New Orleans (TNO) and the Alliance for Affordable Energy say the plan is crucial to equip the city for disasters and outages, while also lowering electricity costs and providing more clean energy. The nonprofits criticized Entergy New Orleans for not installing “microgrids” around the city that can power facilities when the traditional grid fails, while the advocacy groups have built out a network.

The advocacy groups want to supply batteries for up to 1,500 solar-equipped homes and over 100 facilities – such as shelters and hospitals – over a three-year period using $32 million of Entergy settlement funds.

“We are here today to create a sense of urgency for our city council and our utility system to act to better protect the citizens of this city during the growing dangers of outages,” said Shawn Anglim, a pastor and leader with TNO. 

(Photo Credit: Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune)