Entergy New Orleans to reach 5MW goal for Commercial Rooftop Solar Program
Entergy New Orleans recently said that it will meet its goal of installing 5 megawatts of rooftop solar through its Commercial Rooftop Solar Program, which leases commercial building rooftops to install utility-owned solar.
The company piloted the program approximately two years ago and, through the program, has partnered with the Regional Transit Authority, the University of New Orleans, Transportation Consultants, Inc., and local small businesses.
“Entergy New Orleans is committed to finding innovative ways to increase renewable energy for the benefit of our customers and the communities we serve,” David Ellis, Entergy New Orleans president & CEO, said. “It is remarkable to see how far we’ve come, and with the help of our partners, this forward-thinking project will bring us closer to our clean energy goals for New Orleans.”
The company recently finalized plans to expand its existing rooftop solar panel installation at Transportation Consultants’ Alvar St. building. The installation will total approximately 1.9 megawatts once completed, making it the largest single rooftop solar system in Louisiana.
“TCI is proud to partner with Entergy in this rooftop solar program,” Christian Jensen, a representative at Transportation Consultants Inc., said. “With multiple commodity warehouses located in Orleans Parish, we were naturally a good fit to provide large rooftops for the program. We will continue developing our rooftop space for future solar investments as new opportunities arise.”
Entergy New Orleans also partnered with New Orleans small businesses Michoud Global Properties LLC and Cantelli Almonaster Properties LLC to install 300 kilowatts of solar generation on the roof of each site.
“Local renewable power generation provides an opportunity to reduce the amount of power purchased from outside the city, provides job opportunities for the local community and attracts companies that want to be a part of a cleaner, brighter and more sustainable future,” Seth Cureington, Entergy New Orleans director of economic development and tech innovation, said. “By thinking creatively, Entergy New Orleans is able to build upon our already clean energy portfolio through investments in additional innovative renewable energy in a way that makes sense for our customers and environment.”
As of 2019, Entergy New Orleans has the approval to add 95 megawatts of renewable energy to its energy mix through rooftop solar and utility-scale solar facilities.
