Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, said today that Pine Rivers residents are doing their part in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by switching to solar power.
Carolyn Male MP said, that as of the end of March 2010 over 117 Pine Rivers residents have installed solar photovoltaic (PV) and are participating in the solar bonus scheme, contributing over 274 kilowatts of renewable energy capacity to the Queensland electricity grid.
“Through the continuation of the Queensland Government’s Solar Bonus Scheme, we are encouraging all Queenslanders, including Pine Rivers residents, to do the bright thing by supporting the up-take of solar generation,” Carolyn Male MP said.
“People participating in this Scheme are paid 44 cents per kilowatt hour - more than double the current general domestic electricity tariff - for all surplus electricity fed into the electricity grid.”
“The Queensland Government’s Solar Bonus Scheme has been an outstanding success. In excess of 22,400 customers have joined the Scheme since it began in July 2008. This has resulted in nearly 36 megawatts of generation capacity connected to the electricity grid at the end of March 2010.”
“Through the Solar Bonus Scheme, not only do these residents save on electricity bills, they also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using solar energy.”
“In addition to the Solar Bonus Scheme, the Queensland Government is also encouraging energy efficiency and further greenhouse gas emission reduction through the Queensland Solar Hot Water Rebate. The Solar Hot Water Rebate helps Queenslanders with the cost of installing a solar hot water system or heat pump, and, subsequently saves money on electricity bills.”
“As the Queensland Government recently announced, eligible householders who replace an electric hot water system with solar hot water or a heat pump hot water system will receive a $600 rebate. For pensioners and low-income earners the rebate increases to $1000.”
For more information visit www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au/solar_bonus_scheme.cfm.
