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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Nina Lakhani in New Orleans

‘We needed to get off the grid’: New Orleans’ community-driven response to blackouts

Pastor Antoine Barriere standing next to the solar panels on top the Household of Faith. New Orleans.
Pastor Antoine Barriere standing next to the solar panels on top the Household of Faith. New Orleans. Photograph: Giancarlo D'Agostaro/The Guardian

Like many community-based solutions, the community lighthouse network in New Orleans can be traced back to a crisis moment when people realised that something had to change and they – not elected officials – would have to make it happen.

“For [Hurricane] Ida we were ready with showers, mattresses, shelter and food, but once again the electricity was out so we couldn’t serve our community,” said Antoine Barriere, a 61-year-old pastor. “The power was the missing piece.

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