Robbing Louisiana Ratepayers And Other Energy Issues

Saturday March 9. 2013
(see recording* below)

Featuring:

Casey DeMoss Roberts

Executive Director of The Alliance for Affordable Energy

Casey's experience has ranged from working in the United States Peace Corps to the Gulf Restoration Network, and has spent her career working to solve human health, economic, and other problems related to poor environmental management.

She is a highly sought after speaker following the successful talk at the TEDxOilSpill conference. She earned her Master’s in Public Health, focus in Biostatistics from Tulane University. A Louisiana native, Ms. Roberts is dedicated to the principles of fair, affordable,  environmentally responsible, community-based energy for all Louisiana residents. (You can watch her TED talk HERE)

Casey updated us on the Louisiana Public Service Commission's recent reversal of their former adoption of Energy Efficiency Rules plus other efforts under way to curtail energy efficiency in Louisiana. As she put it in a recent article, 

"What happened today (February 27) is a travesty and represents a government out of control," says Casey DeMoss Roberts Executive Director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy. "The Louisiana Public Service Commission took the unprecedented step of reversing itself for no other reason than they got a new Commissioner. Rehearing an issue this way is a slippery slope and sends a scary signal to business interests. Who would invest big dollars in a state with an indecisive regulatory body?"

As you will hear in the recorded presentation(*HERE), Ms Roberts talk sparked a lively discussion and we are grateful for the information she shared with us. We hope to get her back in future for updates on the work of the Alliance. 

Note: 

Below is a sample letter which The Alliance has drafted to be used by New Orleans citizens to appeal to their respective City Council persons regarding the Entergy New Orleans' Integrated Resource Plan. You can download either the .doc version to edit in your word processor, or the .pdf to print and then fill in the appropriate to and from by hand before mailing.

Dear Councilmember [name],

I am resident of your district and have been following Entergy New Orleans’ Integrated Resource Plan because I care about our city’s energy future.

We in New Orleans are well aware that energy issues are social justice issues. From being slammed with high energy bills, to spending days without power in the sweltering heat after a hurricane, to watching the destruction of our Gulf due to irresponsible energy industry practices, each of us is personally affected by energy policy.

How we produce and consumerour energy affects our lives at every level. Energy efficiency is a win-win solution because it supports our economy and our environment, and lowers my energy bill. Clean energy needs to be a priority for New Orleans. Our people just can’t afford any more pollution. St. Bernard Parish just beside us has air so bad the Governor had to step in.

I am writing to let you know that I want energy efficiency and clean energy to be a part of Entergy New Orleans’ Integrated Resource plan, because it is critical to the long-term viability and resilience of our community. We can’t afford a “business as usual” plan.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

District A - Susan G. Guidry 


City Hall, Room 2W80 


1300 Perdido Street 
New Orleans, LA 70112

Phone: (504) 658-1010 
Fax: (504) 658-1016
sgguidry@nola.gov

District B - LaToya Cantrell


City Hall, Room 2W10


1300 Perdido Street
New Orleans, LA 70112

Phone: (504) 658-1020
Fax: (504) 658-1025
lcantrell@nola.gov

.doc Version:

IRP Support Letter_sample.doc

.pdf Version:
IRP Support Letter_sample.pdf

**********************************

Here are a few more sites which Casey referred to in her talk. They are mostly sites which report or comment on the Louisana Public Service Commission's recent reversal of energy efficiency mandates:

• Statewide energy efficiency program halted after utility regulator meeting | NOLA.com
• PSC overturns energy efficient plan | Home | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
• Letter: Is the La. PSC out of control? | Opinion | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA
• Big Win for Energy Luddites in Louisiana - Forbes
• PSC scraps La. energy efficiency program - Businessweek

You can also keep up to date with The Alliance by visiting their website: 
(Home | Alliance for Affordable Energy) 
and their blog: 
(Alliance For Affordable Energy | Because Energy Matters | Page 3).