City of New Orleans Initiates First Demolition at Gordon Plaza to Develop Community Solar Farm

October 30, 2024 | From City of New Orleans

City of New Orleans Initiates First Demolition at Gordon Plaza to Develop Community Solar Farm

Today, Mayor LaToya Cantrell, along with Congressman Troy Carter (LA-2), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, EPA Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance, members of the City Council, and Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder & Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, commemorated the first demolition within the Gordon Plaza subdivision. This event marks the beginning of a significant redevelopment effort to transform the site into a community solar farm, highlighting the City's commitment to environmental justice and sustainable development.

Residents of the Gordon Plaza subdivision, which was developed on the former Agriculture Street Landfill, have faced longstanding environmental health concerns. After years of advocacy by residents and efforts by the City, this first demolition represents a pivotal step towards rectifying past injustices and revitalizing the area.

"This demolition marks a pivotal moment for the Gordon Plaza community and the City of New Orleans as a whole," said MayorLaToya Cantrell. "By transforming this site into a community solar farm, we are not only addressing a painful past, but also creating a brighter, more sustainable future. This project represents our commitment to clean energy, environmental justice, and resilience. I am grateful to all our partners and community members who have made this possible."

"For decades, the families of Gordon Plaza have lived in the shadow of the Agriculture Street Landfill, a place originally intended to hold waste, not lives, dreams, or futures," said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02). "What should have been a vibrant neighborhood became a place of environmental injustice. Through their resilience, the people of Gordon Plaza have fought tirelessly, ensuring that their voices were heard, their health safeguarded, and their rights upheld. Today, we move forward on a project that will turn past wrongs into a foundation for future promise. This solar farm will not only provide clean, renewable energy to our communities, but it will also advance our commitment to environmental justice, equity, and sustainability. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this vision, especially the residents of Gordon Plaza."

"When I was confirmed as EPA Administrator, I vowed to visit communities who have endured environmental injustices to hear first-hand about the challenges their communities face," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "One of my first stops in our Journey to Justice was to Gordon Plaza to elevate the voices that for decades were calling for change. Since then, EPA worked closely with Mayor Cantrell, Congressman Carter, and the residents to build the foundation for a cleaner, revitalized area. I am proud to be back today as we continue our fight to right the historic wrongs that have held back so many in this community."

"It is very good news that the demolition of houses built on a toxic waste site is finally occurring," said Councilman Eugene Green, District D. "It is also good news that the Gordon Plaza site will become a solar farm that provides clean and efficient energy. The work of the New Orleans City Council and the Cantrell Administration to make funding available for the relocation of residents, was a worthy endeavor long overdue. My wish and prayer for the former residents of Gordon Plaza is that they are able to move forward with their lives in their new communities."

"I've worked in the environmental justice field before we even had a name for it," said Dr. Beverly Wright, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice Founder and Executive Director. "One thing I've learned in all those years is that every victory is a hard one, and this one is no exception. While I am elated to see this long-overdue demolition, and excited about the solar farm that will stand in its place, I am more than anything in awe of the community here that never gave up, and who made this day possible. Justice should never take this long, but I'm so glad we didn't give up."

Working with the City Council, the Cantrell Administration allocated $35 million in 2023 to purchase homes in the Gordon Plaza subdivision, providing homeowners and renters the necessary funds to relocate from the site to healthy homes of their choice. The redevelopment plan, which includes the construction of a community solar farm, aims to provide affordable, clean energy to low-income residents, significantly reducing carbon emissions and fostering energy equity.

The City of New Orleans, led by the Office of Resilience & Sustainability (ORS), has prioritized sustainability and resilience across multiple initiatives like the redevelopment of the Agriculture Street Landfill and Lincoln Beach, aligning with broader efforts to address climate change and environmental inequities. The establishment of the community solar farm is one of many projects under the Cantrell Administration that underscores the City's dedication to building a cleaner, greener future. Since 2023, the ORS has secured $131 million in federal awards to implement the City's Climate Action Plan goals. For more information about ORS or these federal awards, please visit https://nola.gov/resilience-sustainability.

For more information about redevelopment of the Agriculture Street Landfill, please visit https://nola.gov/agstreet.

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