Media Releases
Solar Citizens: Statement in response to Fed Government's $1billion solar manufacturing announcement
One in three Australian homes now has solar panels and there’s ongoing demand to power our homes on sunshine.
But so far our homegrown manufacturing industry has barely benefited from the leading uptake of solar. Today’s announcement enables Australia to turn a corner and allow the rest of the 60% of Australians who haven’t got solar to have the chance to buy quality Australian-made products.
Pass NVES and get more cars that run on sunshine on the road, sooner
Solar Citizens calls on Australia’s political leaders to support passing the revised New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, delivering more affordable electric vehicles and ongoing fuel savings for Australians.
CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said, “The Federal Government has listened to various stakeholders and made sensible concessions in the new draft. Now the vested interests of the legacy car industry should get out of the road and stop blocking the best interests of Australian motorists who want the cost of living savings and health benefits the fuel efficiency benefits the new standard will deliver.
“The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard will return money to household budgets, ease the cost of living for drivers, and reduce pollution and emissions for decades to come.
“The new efficiency standard opens the path for more efficient, cheaper-to-run vehicles in the Australian market, including more efficient petrol models, electric vehicles, and hybrids.
Rooftop solar and storage the true key for cheaper, cleaner energy for NSW residents: Solar Citizens
Many NSW households, especially in regional areas, face continued energy bill increases under the Australian Energy Regulator’s Default Market Offer, according to Solar Citizens.
Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said, on top of a 20% energy bill increase in the past year, this new default market offer arrives as the NSW Government considers adding the cost of extending the Eraring Coal Fired Power Plant beyond its economic life to consumer energy bills.
Solar Citizens is calling on the NSW Government to use its upcoming state budget to implement bill-saving measures such as support for rooftop solar and household batteries instead of keeping the Eraring coal-fired power station open.
Renewables and cost of living on the agenda for Queensland leaders
Solar Citizens has welcomed the announcement made by Opposition Leader David Crisafulli at the Courier Mail’s Leader’s debate today of a grant of up to $3,500 to support renters getting access to solar.
Mr Crisafulli told the debate the program would run for four years and be focussed on a ‘partnership’ approach between landlord and tenants.
The Opposition’s announcement builds on a previous Queensland Government Solar for Renters trial that had a positive impact for participating households, a trial Solar Citizens has been urging all sides of politics in Queensland to reinvigorate and expand.
Solar Citizens' response to National's leader on rooftop solar and batteries
Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO of Solar Citizens has responded to Nationals leader David Littleproud’s calls, as quoted in the Australian Financial Review (21 Feb), for a moratorium on large-scale renewable energy projects, in favour of household energy subsidies.
“The Australian Energy Market Operator has been clear in their modelling - both household and large-scale renewable energy and storage are required to meet reliability and sustainability targets in the energy grid in coming years. Household storage has been identified as the yawning gap in the Federal government policy to realise the AEMO’s modelling.’
‘Rooftop solar is not in competition with large-scale renewables, the two are complimentary. We urge all decision-makers to put customer energy bills at the heart of renewable energy policy, which means delivering both.
‘The biggest risk to customer energy bills in the Nationals’ fixation on nuclear energy - which is unproven, unavailable in the market and would be delivered at huge risk of cost and time blow-outs. Renewable generation and storage - at large and household scale - provide cheap energy and are largely available off the shelf.
'The energy market, in which households are increasingly important participants, is after certainty and we want our elected officials to get on it.
Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas is available for interview
Media contact: Heidi Douglas 0401 092 570
Solar and renewables key to achieving new Qld carbon reduction target and cost of living savings
Solar Citizens has welcomed the introduction of legislation for Queensland’s Clean Economy Jobs Bill and a 75% carbon reduction target for the state by 2035.
Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO at Solar Citizens, said, “Queensland is on the frontline of the impacts of climate-fuelled extreme weather events and the new carbon reduction target of 75% by 2035 makes the state well-placed to be part of the solution.
“The good news is reduced emissions and reduced energy bills go hand-in-hand – a win-win for households, communities and the economy.
“Queenslanders have already reduced emissions by installing a million rooftop solar installations, and now we need greater targeted financial support for more homes to access clean solar technology, including low-income households and people who live in apartments, rentals or social housing.
Australians deserve to receive full cost of living benefits from New Vehicle Efficiency Standards
Solar Citizens urges political leaders to resist the ramping up of industry disinformation and support the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard for the cost of living and health benefits delivered for the community.
Government analysis found if Australia catches up with the emission standard in the U.S. by around 2028, people will save:
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$1000 per vehicle per year or $17,000 over the average life of the vehicle;
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$100 billion in fuel costs to 2050; and
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About $5 billion in reduced health costs given the reduction in air pollution.
Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said, “Australia is a dumping ground for more polluting, less efficient vehicle models that can’t be sold in countries with a fuel efficiency standard, passing on the cost to drivers and the community.
New Vehicle Efficiency Standard will put Aussies in driver’s seat for cost-of-living and emissions savings: Solar Citizens
Solar Citizens has welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s proposed modelling for a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard that delivers cost-of-living and health benefits.
The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) requires vehicle manufacturers to meet pollution emissions targets each year. Most countries worldwide already have a standard in place, making Australia a dumping ground for less efficient vehicles that are more expensive to run.
Government analysis found a strong NVES can save:
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About $1000 per vehicle per year or $17,000 over the average life of the vehicle;
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Australian motorists about $100 billion in fuel costs to 2050;
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About $5 billion in reduced health costs given the reduction in air pollution.
Solar Citizens welcomes Federal inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles in Australia
Solar Citizens has today welcomed the announcement of a Federal committee ‘Inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles’ as an opportunity to fast-track the rollout of electric vehicles and make them more affordable for all Australians.
The committee will also explore “opportunities such as fuel savings and affordability for residents in outer regions to make this shift beneficial for everyone”.