New Orleans, LA

In 2025, New Orleans became the first city in the South to earn Charging Smart Gold designation, a major achievement that recognizes the city’s work to remove barriers to EV charging infrastructure installation, procure electric vehicles for the municipal fleet, increase access to public charging stations, and more. This Gold designation recognizes New Orleans as a national leader in removing barriers and increasing access to the many benefits of transportation electrification.

New Orleans became the first local government in Louisiana to earn SolSmart designation in 2024. This major achievement came as a result of the Big Easy’s work to establish partnerships with community-based organizations, facilitating discussion for solar goals with community members, reducing the cost of residential solar 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.