NEW ORLEANS — A community partnership is helping light up the city when darkness hits. That darkness is caused when the power goes out. Community lighthouses are essentially shelters that offer air conditioning and charging stations. A new lighthouse was announced and those working on the project are those interested in a career in renewable energy.
On the roof of Sisters of the Holy Family Motherhouse in New Orleans East are solar panels, and more are on the way because this is a community lighthouse.
Community lighthouses are what's called a microgrid resilience hub, each one is fitted with solar panels and backup batteries, so if we get severe weather and the power gets knocked out, there are places people can go to keep cool and get something to eat.
Now there's one in New Orleans East, Councilman Oliver Thomas says his district has been disregarded for too long. The councilman said, "This community that has deserved this time of attention and investment for far too long but not gotten it is starting to get it now."
He said community lighthouses provide, "Those survival amenities to get you through the disaster to get you through the weather event." He says initiatives like this, are giving his constituents faith they haven't been forgotten, saying, "Should've happened a long time ago, but the East is the beast that's celebrating this heavenly feast right now."
Locals are being trained in renewable energy to take on this work. It's a partnership between Louisiana Green Corps and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. 20-year-old Jayden Davis is one of them, he's learning to install these solar panels on the convent roof.
Davis said, "If you look around the city of New Orleans we go through so much, from Hurricanes." He went on to say, "Bring a source of enjoyment to the city of New Orleans to give those people a place where they can come and run too when they have nowhere to go."
From New Orleans East himself, he says everyone across the city should have equal access to services, saying, "Coming up in New Orleans for anybody is rough. There are so many things that you could fall victim to and it's kinda hard to stay on the right trajectory."
The New Orleans East lighthouse is set to be finished in 30-60 days. There are 10 other lighthouses across the city.
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