The New Orleans City Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee just threw the city’s community solar effort a critical lifeline, voting to give developers more time to navigate changing grid safety rules while turning up the pressure on Entergy New Orleans for straight answers. The hearing spotlighted a roughly 60 megawatt pipeline, described as enough to power an estimated 6,000 to 7,800 homes, and ended with a recommendation to approve Resolution R-26-109. The measure would push key compliance deadlines out to April 27, 2026, with council members saying the goal is to keep projects from stalling while interconnection standards are under review.
Council Pushes Utility To Clarify Direct Transfer Trip Rules
As outlined by the City Council, R-26-109 directs Entergy New Orleans to file updated Direct Transfer Trip (DTT) guidelines by April 27 and pauses project deadlines between March 13 and April 27 for any facilities affected by the review. The resolution states that ENO’s ongoing review of its DTT standards amounts to a delay outside developers’ control and formally asks the utility to spell out which projects will actually need DTT installations. Committee members argued that clearer rules should reduce surprise costs and help more community solar sites move from the drawing board to construction.
Why DTTs Add Cost And Delay
Direct Transfer Trip systems are protective relays that automatically disconnect large solar installations during grid disturbances to protect equipment and lineworkers. They also bring extra hardware, communications gear and coordination costs that can add tens of thousands of dollars to a project’s budget. Entergy New Orleans interconnection materials lay out those Distributed Energy Resource standards and flag situations where isolation protection like DTT may be required. As reported by Biz New Orleans, ENO has hired a third-party reviewer, and officials told the committee they expect to share interim guidance in mid April and a full revision by mid June.
Pipeline Status And Low-Income Protections
Sisters Project Anchors The Pipeline…