Moreland Energy Foundation welcomes scope for solar powered suburbs
July 22, 2010
The Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd (MEFL) today welcomed the Victorian Government's plan to boost the States electricity supply from large, medium and small scale solar power to five per cent by 2020.
"This is a significant announcement and an ambitious target which could make Victoria a real leader in solar energy in Australia," said MEFL Chief Executive Paul Murfitt.
"What's more, there's exciting potential to have schools, supermarkets and other businesses and community groups creating solar suburbs across Victoria - moving away from centralised electricity distribution to clean, green, local generation," Mr Murfitt said.
MEFL welcomed the plan to set up a Medium Scale Working Group which will advise on what types of actions are needed to drive medium-scale solar power.
"We've been working on the potential for medium-scale solar power for business and industry across the Moreland municipality and would be keen to bring our experience into the group," Mr Murfitt said.
MEFL said the government's solar announcements also put it on track to introduce Australias first feed-in tariff for large-scale renewable energy.
Until now, feed-in tariffs in Australia have been limited to small-scale renewable energy, such as roof-top household solar electricity systems.
"Feed-in tariffs have been hugely successful at driving investment in renewable energy projects in countries such as Germany and Spain," Mr Murfitt said.
"It's great to see a government recognising the power and effectiveness of feed-in tariffs as an incentive mechanism for large-scale renewable energy as well," he said.
"Hopefully the government will also expand the existing premium feed-in tariff for Victorian households to match Australian best-practice in New South Wales and the ACT."
"Individual households and communities really want to take action at a local level to cut greenhouse gas emissions and create a more sustainable Australia - particularly in the absence of climate change action at the federal level."
"As the Government is indicating today, the best and most effective first step towards reducing Victoria's carbon pollution is to replace power generation from dirty generators like Hazelwood with clean energy alternatives," Mr Murfitt said.
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> Moreland Energy Foundation welcomes scope for solar powered suburbs
