NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Within the face of more and more extreme storms and local weather pushed disasters, Louisiana vitality leaders, regulators and lawmakers met in New Orleans for a summit centered on one mission: making the state’s energy grid stronger, smarter and extra resilient.

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta mentioned a $2 billion funding aimed toward hardening {the electrical} grid, a joint effort between the state and utility supplier Entergy. The initiative seeks not simply to resist main climate occasions, but in addition to get better from them shortly.

“Louisiana undertook a pathway to grid resilience and agreed to work with Entergy on a $2 billion funding in grid resilience for not solely distribution mechanisms, but in addition for the transmission grid,” mentioned Skrmetta. “Recognizing that, the necessary factor is the flexibility to bounce again after important climate occasions.”

A key a part of the grid resilience effort entails changing ageing, susceptible infrastructure- beginning with one thing as fundamental, however important, as energy poles.

Entergy CEO Drew Marsh emphasised that this isn’t nearly resilience, it is also about making certain vitality stays reasonably priced and sustainable for patrons throughout Louisiana.

“The purchasers come first,” Marsh mentioned. “And so, eager about what it means for our prospects from a reliability standpoint that we’re simply speaking about, but in addition the sustainability and the price effectiveness, the affordability components of it, these are all going to be prime of thoughts.”

Marsh famous that Louisiana’s ample vitality infrastructure helps low electrical energy costs, serving to the state stay aggressive within the international economic system.

“We have now ample infrastructure and that… all of that results in low vitality costs and that signifies that we will compete very successfully within the international economic system,” Marsh mentioned.

The summit additionally spotlighted the broader vitality technique wanted for long run resilience. Congressman Troy Carter known as for a complete strategy, together with bolstered levees and solar-powered cooling facilities in susceptible neighborhoods.

“We nonetheless have work to do,” Carter mentioned. “However we’ve got come a good distance.”

With storms rising stronger and extra frequent, state leaders say the time to behave is now. The imaginative and prescient contains not simply restoring energy quicker but in addition utilizing good grid applied sciences and clear vitality options to guard communities, create jobs and preserve the lights on.

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