Ten percent of Alice roofs to go solar by end of 2010
31 March 2010
Alice Springs could become the first town of its size in Australia to have ten percent of its roofs with solar panels.
Brian Elmer, the General Manager of Alice Solar City made the prediction today as he launched the 1000 Roofs in 1000 Days campaign, together with Mayor Damien Ryan.
“In December, it will be 1000 days since Alice Springs became a Solar City, so we are issuing the community with a challenge to have 1000 solar systems installed by then – equivalent to about 10% of all roofs in Alice Springs.”, said Brian Elmer.
“In the first ten days since launching the Bulk Purchase Scheme for rooftop solar systems, where systems cost as little as $2000, over 30 people have booked a home suitability inspection with the bulk purchase suppliers Conergy and eco-Kinetics.”
“This is the positive result we expected after almost 600 people expressed their interest in going solar after solar system funding ran out last year.”
“With about 40 weeks left in the year, 1000 systems is a challenging but achievable goal.”
“Installing a solar system in Alice Springs is no longer just for the well-off or the green minded, it’s for everyone”, says Elmer.
“If homes or businesses became mini power stations by going solar, they would get paid for all the electricity they produce, get a credit on every electricity bill and they would be protected against any future price rises in electricity.”
“For example, a 2kW system, which produces about half the electricity that the average Alice Springs house uses, would generate up to $550 per year, which comes as a credit off every electricity bill.”
Mayor Damien Ryan agreed by saying he’d really like to see Centralian’s rise to the solar challenge to make Alice Springs the best Solar City in Australia.
“The reasons to convert homes and businesses to solar far outweigh the financial investment, and I commend Alice Solar City for initiating a bulk purchase arrangement for the town”, said Mr Ryan.
Since the Alice Solar City program was launched in March 2008, Alice Springs has seen the number of solar systems installed go from just two to almost 300.
Mayor Damien Ryan said, “We would like to see this number increase to 1000, or about 10% of rooftops, and I reckon the Alice Springs community has the enthusiasm and foresight to make it happen.”
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For media enquiries please contact Laurelle Halford from Creative Territory on 0417 222 211 or (08) 8953 7919 or laurelle@creativeterritory.com
About Alice Solar City
The Alice Springs Solar City Consortium is led by the Alice Springs Town Council and includes broad community support from the Northern Territory Government, Power and Water Corporation, Tangentyere Council, the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce, the Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre and the Arid Lands Environment Centre. Funding sources include the Australian Government, the Northern Territory Government, Power and Water Corporation, and Alice Springs Town Council.
