Energy visions - 24 June 2010
Submitted by Judy Walker while Tracy Sorensen is away.
How have you been coping with the frosty mornings and the bitterly cold winds? Yes, Winter is well and truly here.
At our house a few years ago we decided to install a flued gas heater and to move our computers and TV into the same room as the heater. It’s cosy and we are saving on Winter heating bills. We do intend to take advantage of the deal on solar panels deals soon. The Federal government provides a rebate for installing photovoltaic systems. The NSW State government pays you for the electricity you generate. Bathurst Regional Council is offering a $300 rebate for Solar Panel installations until the end of June, 2010.
But I would prefer to see a more farsighted approach to the issue of energy provision.
The initial outlay on photovoltaic cells is not cheap. Those in our community who can least afford to pay high electricity costs will not be able to make the switch.
I would like to see Bathurst Regional Council be a leading voice in working for a new approach to providing renewable energy. Bathurst region is a distinct community where investment in large scale renewable energy will benefit the whole community.
What has happened to the scheme to use the methane from the Bathurst Waste Management Centre to produce electricity?
Bathurst is in a good wind area and has a high proportion of sunny days. There are farmers willing and suitably located to have wind turbines or solar collectors on their properties.
What needs to be done to make this a reality?
If the Federal government put a price on CO2e pollution, the companies out there waiting to make these investments would do so. Bathurst Regional Council needs to actively lobby for this to happen. Then the Council can invest or become a shareholder in projects providing renewable energy and so provide fair priced electricity for all its citizens.
Lets be a country and a community with vision.
*********
Note that the Steering Committee meetings of BCCAN have changed to the third Monday of the month at 5pm in the Committee Room at the Bathurst Regional Council building.