ABOUT US

OUR MISSION

POWERING OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH CIVIC TRIUMPH

Sisters Community Solar represents a historic milestone for Orleans Parish. Grounded in a legacy of advocacy and community service, we bring direct utility savings and clean local energy to those who need it most.

How We Got Here

Community Solar didn't happen overnight.
New Orleanians have long faced some of the highest electricity costs in the country. In 2018, the New Orleans City Council created a Community Solar program to help residents lower their electricity bills and benefit from clean energy—even if they couldn't install solar panels on their own homes. But the original rules made it impossible for developers to build financially viable projects, so the program never got off the ground.


Together New Orleans believed the promise of Community Solar was too important to abandon. Working alongside residents, member institutions, energy experts, City Council members, and other partners, Together organized a multi-year campaign to redesign the program. The coalition commissioned independent studies, convened stakeholders, testified at public meetings, and worked with policymakers to develop rules that would deliver meaningful savings for residents while supporting successful projects.


Those efforts resulted in major rule changes adopted by the New Orleans City Council in 2023, making Community Solar financially viable.


Today, Sisters Community Solar is turning that victory into reality. Built on land owned by the Sisters of the Holy Family, it is the first Community Solar project in New Orleans and will allow eligible Entergy New Orleans customers throughout Orleans Parish to save money on their electricity bills without installing solar panels on their homes.

Community Benefits

Sisters Community Solar is creating more than clean energy. Together New Orleans worked to ensure the project delivers benefits that stay in our community. Construction includes partnerships with local unions—including IBEW Local 130 and IUOE Local 406—to perform key portions of the construction work. These partnerships support good-paying jobs and apprenticeship programs that give workers hands-on experience building utility-scale solar infrastructure and developing skills for careers in Louisiana's growing clean energy economy.

Established Labor Partnerships

IBEW Local 130

IOUE LOCAL 460

The Sisters of The Holy Family

The Sisters of the Holy Family have served New Orleans for generations through education, faith, and community service. Their mission has always been rooted in improving the lives of others, especially those most in need.

By making this land available for Sisters Community Solar, they are helping create a lasting community asset that will allow New Orleans families to lower their electricity bills for years to come. This partnership reflects the Sisters' long-standing commitment to serving the community while expanding access to affordable, locally generated clean energy. 

The project is named in honor of the Sisters of the Holy Family and their enduring commitment to serving the people of New Orleans.

Learn more about Sisters →

About Together New Orleans

Together New Orleans is a broad-based organization of religious congregations, unions, neighborhood associations, and other community institutions from across the greater New Orleans area with a common mission of addressing issues facing our families.

Together brings people together across race, faith, neighborhood, income, and political affiliation to build relationships, develop leaders, and act together on the issues shaping daily life in our city.

Community Solar is one example of that work. Together New Orleans organized residents, brought together diverse partners, and worked with City Council and energy experts to help make Community Solar a reality in New Orleans.

Learn more about TNO →

Project Partners

Sisters Community Solar is the result of a partnership among community organizations, mission-driven institutions, and clean energy experts committed to expanding access to affordable solar energy in New Orleans.

  • Together New Orleans

    A broad-based coalition that organized the community campaign to make Community Solar possible in New Orleans.

  • IBEW Local 130

    Performing key portions of the electrical construction work.

  • IOUE 460

    Providing skilled equipment operators and supporting apprenticeship opportunities.

  • Sisters of the Holy Family

    Host site for the project. The project supports the Sisters' mission and community work.

  • Neighborhood sun

    Community Solar administrator, providing enrollment and subscriber support.