Steps to Developing the New Orleans 

Strategic Energy Plan

Elizabeth Brown

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

New Orleans City Council 

Utility Subcommittee Meeting 

January 17, 2008

NREL/PR-7A20-51650
National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Only national laboratory dedicated to renewable energy 

and energy efficiency R&D

Research spans fundamental science to technology to 

policy and market solutions

New Orleans Support:

Funded by U.S. DOE to provide technical and policy 

expertise to assist in developing energy strategies for 

recovery and rebuild

- Schools - Residential - Municipal - Energy Policy
Presentation Overview

• Strategic energy planning: why and how? 

• Next Steps for New Orleans Strategy 

Development

• Suggestions for immediate implementation

• Next steps for immediate implementation
Why strategic energy planning?

• Harmonize current activities 

• Maximize program impact

• Minimize duplication of effort

• Minimize cost impacts

What is a strategic energy plan?

A broadly accepted, goal-oriented, 

comprehensive plan to strategically 

guide energy decision making
Integrate supply and demand 

alternatives: develop a ranking system 

incorporating baseline and objectives

Typical Objectives

• Energy Reliability

• Minimize Environmental 

Impacts

• Supply Diversification

• Use of Local Resources

• Economic Development

• Green Collar Workforce

• Energy Affordability

Develop a community energy baseline

Develop a common energy vision

Identify and evaluate resource options

Demand-Side Options Supply-Side Options

Programs & Projects

Strategic Energy Plan

Typical Strategic Energy Planning 

Process

Typical Stakeholders

• CHAMPION

• Utility

• Government: City Council 

and Mayor’s Office

• Community Businesses and 

Industry

• NGOs

• Citizens Evaluation
Develop Common Energy Vision

Establishes priority for community

Involves all stakeholders

Can be general or specific - longer term

Translate to action 

Develop Common Energy Baseline

Need not be absolute, but used as 

benchmark to measure progress and to 

rank program opportunities
New York City

Purpose: Assuring reliable, affordable, and 

clean electricity is essential to the continued 

attraction and retention of [New York] 

businesses and residents. Requires 2,600 

MW new resources. 

The Task Force arrived at a comprehensive 

program of action consisting of 28 specific 

recommendations in four principal areas: 

energy supply, distributed resources, energy 

delivery and leading by example in municipal 

government 

www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/energy_task_force.pdf
NYC Status Report
Toronto: Change is in the Air

Goal: Reduce climate change 

impact, become the 

renewable energy capital of 

Canada

Strategy: Public Education, 

Stakeholder driven action 

plans, municipal leadership, 

tree planting

Funding: Approximately C$40 

per year per resident (less 

in out years)

Challenge: buy-in

Success: Civic Pride

http://www.toronto.ca/environment/
Integrate supply and demand 

alternatives: develop a ranking system 

incorporating baseline and objectives

Typical Objectives

• Energy Reliability & 

Security

• Minimize Environmental 

Impacts

• Supply Diversification

• Use of Local Resources

• Economic 

Development/Jobs

• Build technical expertise

• Affordability

Develop a community energy baseline

Develop a common energy vision

Identify and evaluate resource options

Demand-Side Options Supply-Side Options

Programs & Projects

Strategic Energy Plan

New Orleans Strategic Energy Planning 

Process

Typical Stakeholders

• CHAMPION

• Utility

• Government: City 

Council and Mayor’s 

Office

• Community Businesses 

and Industry

• NGOs

• Citizens

GOAL!
Develop Common Energy Vision

• Mayor’s office has roadmap in development

• City Council Efficiency Resolution

• Task Force has vision statement

• Others?

Develop Common Energy Baseline

• Entergy annual reports

• Necessary data could be collected as 

needed or through program 

development
Next Steps for Strategic Energy 

Planning

• Convene core stakeholder group to harmonize vision

• Identify Needs and Develop common energy baseline

• Use baseline to evaluate available options

• Develop implementation strategy for viable options

OUTCOME : A program with broad acceptance that 

works for New Orleans

Consider: Mediated master planning
In the meantime...

• Rebuild is now!

• Hedge against future fuel price volatility and 

high prices

• Interested stakeholders: Entergy, City 

Council, Mayor’s office, Task force

• Provides early successes 

• Acting now has the benefit of supporting 

larger scale strategic planning process by 

keeping interest lively and illustrating 

impact
What’s effective now?

Energy efficiency programs: 2 examples 

with tangible savings

Examples drawn from Consortium for Energy Efficiency and the American Council for an 

Energy-Efficient Economy

How to choose?! 

NREL next steps for policy information 

development
New York: Be Cool! 

• $35-$100 “Bounty” on old air 

conditioners implemented by utility

• 10-40% energy reduction without 

behavioral shift

• Users also received federal and state 

incentives on efficient units

• Funding: rate payer charge

http://www.getenergysmart.org/BuildingOwners/Summer/BeCool.asp
Berkeley Efficiency and Solar 

Program

• Program: Bond provides low interest loans to 

property owners that are rolled into property 

taxes

• Duration: Late 2008

• Funding and Source: City level bond

• Successes: Specific marketing to multi-family 

unit owners to describe benefits

• Necessary elements: Bond, financial 

institution or private funder to provide initial 

investment

Similar Programs: Live Green Toronto

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/mayor/GHG/solar.htm
Next steps for immediate programs?

• Opportunities identified from current efforts

– Building code enforcement

– Energy efficiency resolution programs

– Voluntary green power program assistance

• Evaluate costs (and potential funding 

sources), impacts, and applicability 

– Contributes to energy baseline

– Ensures programs with real energy impact

– Inform policy development
Resources

• Consortium for Energy Efficiency: Entergy 

(parent) is a member

• NREL Program and Policy Technical 

Assistance

• National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency 

(NAPEE)

• Integrate Students for baseline studies

• Consider professional master planning 

facilitators
Questions?

Elizabeth Brown

Senior Energy Analyst

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

(303) 384 7489

Elizabeth_brown@nrel.gov
Greensburg, Kansas

Strategy: Stakeholder driven 

long-term specific 

community action plan

Challenge: 95% destruction

Funding: USDA, State, 

solicitation 

Success: Large percentage of 

community participating, 

City Council adopted 

resolution that all cityowned buildings will be 

LEED Platinum

Inspiration: “Although 

this storm was 

devastating to our 

community, we are 

presented with an 

incredible opportunity 

to show the world our 

strength and to create 

a new future for those 

who will live here.”

http://www.greensburgks.org/