Have they underestimated the solar industry, again?Â
There’s one group of people that inspires a sense of admiration in me, time and time again. Hard-working people busy with jobs families and lives who repeatedly make time to defend something they believe in. People upset with governments who are supposed to represent national interest but which instead force people to pay ever more for government short-sightedness and pandering to vested interests. People fed up with governments desperate scapegoating, people who are prepared to stand up and fight for the nation’s preferred source of energy.
I’m talking about Australia’s sunlovers. Each one of the 2 million Australian dwellings hosting a solar energy system, and the solar industry workers who helped them to slash their energy bills. And its the combination of public and workers which makes Australian solar lobbying such a powerful force. Voters with large reach who have already forced backdowns from two state governments. Voters who can see through the Coal-ition’s henchmen’s hatchet job masquerading as an independent Review of the Renewable Energy Target (RET). Voters and local businesses who are now being threatened into action by a federal government seemingly intent on scrapping the mechanism that reduces electricity prices now (and for the coming decade) by promoting competition and which provides individuals with the ability to generate a better source of energy.Â
These voters will have the opportunity to influence the national agenda through the West Australian senate election, as a Solar Senate may prevent the Abbott government from scrapping the RET. The Australian Solar Council engaged the assistance of the creative team who successfully campaigned against the mining tax, and ads have run on television and in major papers (you can view this ad from our website). This has made the Renewable Energy Target an election issue. That this campaign’s funding has been crowd-sourced emphasizes the number of passionate people who are willing to stand for solar (SunWiz contributed $750 to date), we are a powerful force when mobilized… so mobilize! I encourage all WA solar retailers to email their databases of over 500,000 solar voters urging them to vote solar.
Apart from a Solar Senate, the next opportunity to Save Solaris by solar businesses visiting their local MP and telling them what’s at stake for their business. Most MPs have little understanding of electricity prices and the importance and value of the RET, and some key facts will assist in shifting their understanding. This is the best opportunity to influence Liberal party-room discussion and (at the very least) protect the SRES. A number of great resources have been pulled together – Clean Energy Councilmembers can access advocacy materials including an MP letter template and powerpoint presentation, and there is also material available to Solar Installers. As the Chair of the CEC‘s Domestic PV Directorate and a member of the PV Leadership Committee and Policy & Advisory Committee, I see how much effort is going into protecting the RET – its the CEC‘s single greatest focus and a lot goes on behind the scenes that greatly benefits the solar industry.
Individual businesses are making extraordinary contributions too. Greenbank donated a whopping $100,000 to the ASC campaign, and many businesses have donated more than $1000 each. Just as Solar Retailers can improve customer standing and increase sales by communicating their actions to save solar, SolarJuice has turned a risk into a business opportunity through its “Don’t Squeeze the RET” offer to wholesale customers. SolarJuice offers significant discounts when registered partners do things like visiting or writing to local politicians, using social media, encouraging signups to Solar Citizens, and more. They’ve also prepared what must be the best fact-pack and RET Presentation I’ve seen.
But beyond business activities, what really excites me are the masses of regular people who love solar power. This really is a community-led campaign, real grass-roots stuff. Solar Citizens consists of tens of thousands of solar voters who are passionate about solar energy and who believe that the government solar should remain in-reach of all families, and not be forced to pay huge power bills. Solar Citizens is led by a passionate team that has achieved great outcomes for both solar households and the solar industry, including extracting commitments from the governments of Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales to no fees or taxes singling out solar homes. Solar Citizens will be immensely useful when the time comes to mobilize the masses. I encourage every solar retailer to email their customers urging them to join Solar Citizens.
This is truly inspiring stuff. Whenever I’m dismayed by the way we treat the inhabitants of our planet, the actions motivations and vision of Australia’s sunlovers offers me hope. I am also inspired by the successful outcomes of our past joint-endeavours. Remember, our industry is energized by the most powerful force in the solar system, the sun.
Action list:
Solar Households
WA Solar Retailers:Â
All Solar Businesses:
- Donate to the Save Solar campaign. The WA senate election is a national opportunity for solar
- Visit your local MP, especially if it is a Coalition member
- Embed the Save Solar Video in your website: (SunWiz’s website has produced the 4th largest number of plays). Copy from beginning to end of this code:
- (Beginning of code:)
<iframe src=”//player.vimeo.com/video/89687502″ width=”500″ height=”281″ webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
(end of code)
- Use Social Media to protect the RET. The ASC has produced some great infographics
- Stop free-riding on the back of others’ actions. Protect your job by contributing to the cause, whether financially or through advocacy. At the very (very) least, email your local member
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Great Sunny Pictures
The RET Review is making Sunny squirm too. When he heard what they’re planning to do, he poked out his tongue and exposed his private parts in the general direction of Canberra (he was polite enough to censor his private parts with his tail for the photo).
