News Roundup

Entergy Pitches ‘green Power’ Program For N.O.

City Business
January 17, 2008

NEW ORLEANS — Entergy New Orleans today is scheduled to review with the New Orleans City Council a “green power” program that would support clean, renewable power to electricity customers.

Entergy’s proposal would allow customers to voluntarily subscribe to earth-friendly, renewable energy such as hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, solar and biomass in return for a monthly premium to cover the costs of the program. If approved by the Council, the program could launch by summer 2008.

“The availability of green power will give customers who are concerned about the environment a greater choice of products and a way to voice their support for renewable energy,” said ENO President and CEO Rod West. “Customers can benefit by personally reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that they generate by purchasing green power.”

A recent national survey by Market Strategies for the Edison Electric Institute shows that 78 percent of consumers think global warming is happening, ENO said. Nearly two-thirds are personally doing something in their everyday life to address global warming, and 72 percent favor voluntary efforts to increase renewable energy use, ENO added.

Under the plan, customers in all rate classes who sign up for green power would purchase renewable energy credits through ENO in blocks of power. A renewable energy credit represents one block of energy that was generated by a third party renewable fuel source, purchased by ENO and sold to customers. Each used block of clean, renewable electricity results in one less used block of traditional fossil fuel-generated power.

The premium would appear as a separate line item on monthly bills of customers who choose to participate. The charge for green power is in addition to base charges and the fuel adjustment clause for electricity.

Green power preserves limited resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions believed to contribute to global climate change, ENO said.

“Entergy New Orleans agrees that green power programs reduce the impact of energy production on the environment, conserve natural resources and support domestic energy self-reliance,” West said. “This program is a positive step toward sustainability.”

ENO, a subsidiary of Entergy Corp., provides electricity to more than 125,000 customers and natural gas to more than 80,000 customers in Orleans Parish.