The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded New Orleans nearly $50 million to install solar panels on low to middle-income homes, advancing climate action and energy independence in the city.
New Orleans will use the $50 million EPA grant to install solar panels on low to middle-income homes, enhancing climate resilience.
The EPA's $4.3 billion grant program supports 25 projects nationwide to reduce climate pollution, impacting 30 states.
Projects range from improving energy efficiency to reducing methane emissions, with a projected reduction of 1 billion metric tons of emissions by 2050.
Key quote:
"[This,] the City’s largest ever investment in climate action, is a testament to our collaborative efforts and unwavering dedication to addressing climate change."
— Greg Nichols, New Orleans’ Deputy Chief Resilience Officer
Why this matters:
Increasing solar energy in New Orleans not only cuts emissions but also helps the city adapt to stronger hurricanes driven by climate change. This initiative represents a significant step towards broader climate action and community resilience.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated St. Bernard Parish, many residents didn’t receive enough money from the state to rebuild. Nearly half made the difficult decision to start over somewhere else.
Energized by expected windfalls from state and federal climate bills, Silicon Valley's elected leaders, industry experts and activists sounded a hopeful note last weekend as they vowed to accelerate their green initiatives.
