SolSmart Designees
New Orleans
Louisiana
In 2024, The City of New Orleans, Louisiana became the first local government in the Pelican State to earn SolSmart designation! The Big Easy achieved this designation by working with local community-based organizations, updating zoning requirements, reducing permit fees, and more.
- Established partnerships with local community-based organizations focused on serving disadvantaged communities to define the community’s solar equity goals
- Discussed solar PV goals and/or strategies for increasing solar PV development, including large-scale solar plans, solar access, and/or solar adoption in disadvantaged communities
- Discussed community goals for solar PV, net metering, community solar, and/or interconnection processes with the local utility and explored areas for future collaboration.
- Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less.
- Ensured the zoning ordinance establishes a clear regulatory pathway for large-scale solar PV
- Review zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development.
