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14 May
2008
Media Release
Immediate Release 14 May 2008
GOVERMENT SOLAR POLICY WILL CREATE AN EXTRA 15,000 TONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES PER YEAR
The solar industry will be reeling after the misguided changes to the Solar Photovoltaic Rebate programme announced tonight.
Since
last years budget in which the solar rebate was doubled from $4,000 to
$8,000 the uptake by Australians of solar systems which feed real clean
green energy into their homes and back into the grid has increased by
500% saving an estimated 190,000 Tonne of greenhouse gas emissions.
That
was a great step forward – however last night’s budget that introduced
a means test for the rebate, will affect at least half the people
currently putting their hands in their own pocket to generate solar
power for all of us’ says Adrian Ferraretto Managing Director of Solar
Shop Australia.
‘The federal government has mistakenly taken the
view that this is about allowing the less wealthy to have solar
power. In fact what we all need is less coal fired electricity
and more solar power regardless of who’s roof it goes on.’
The
rebate is $8/Watt of installed solar panels up to 1,000 Watts (1kW) –
so the full $8,000 rebate is available for a small system that will
power 20-30% of an average Aussie home.
Mr Ferraretto says,
‘Our experience has shown that wealthier Australians tend to buy larger
systems, two or three times that size and so end up making a real
environmental difference. Last night's decision has taken away the
incentive for these people to install a solar system thereby
significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Means
testing will mean many environmentally conscious people who have a
combined household income of $100,000 or more will no longer feel there
is any government support for them in choosing to buy solar power. For
them the message is you will get just as much support from the
government to buy big air conditioner or a big plasma TV as you will to
buy solar power for your home. .
Unfortunately this will severely impact on jobs and reduce investment in the promising Australian solar industry.
Thanks
to this policy, a country like Germany will install around 1000x more
solar panels than Australia this year. And that’s a country with half
of our sunlight!’
Means testing is not the answer - if
absolutely necessary, it would be more effective to offer a reduced
rebate eg. $5000 as an incentive to all Australians to install their
own green power station rather than penalising those who have been most
supportive of this clean, green energy.
Many Aussies voted for Rudd. They thought he was the greener alternative to Howard.
The
decision to means test the solar rebate indicates that Kevin Rudd,
Penny Wong and Peter Garrett don’t really believe in solar power – they
believe in clean coal and the tooth fairy!
Ends
For more information or to speak with Adrian Ferraretto call 0408 700 965
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