Pittwater Life October 2019 Issue

Open-door policy to drive
News
Re-elected Northern
Beaches Mayor Michael
Regan says he’s not
satisfied with Council staffdriven
targets of 50 per cent
uptake of solar energy for
eligible dwellings by 2030 – he
wants a 100 per cent return.
Mayor Regan said he was
keen to explore and fasttrack
options that would
sway the owners of 60,000
homes and units from
Palm Beach to Manly to go
‘off the grid’, including an
innovative plan that would
see volunteers trained and
endorsed by council to doorknock
dwellings to educate
occupiers about the financial
and environmental benefits
of solar.
Currently just over 8,000
homes use the power of the
sun.
“This equates to only 12.6
per cent of suitable homes
that have solar installed
on the Northern Beaches,”
he said. “The average for
Australia is close to 23 per
cent so we can clearly do
better.
“In fact, while Council
has endorsed a 50 per cent
uptake by 2030, I want 100
per cent – we could smash
that if we break down some
of the barriers our community
has identified.”
He said residents were
surveyed in May and June to
establish the barriers to solar
uptake, including those who
had recently attended Council
solar workshops. More than
540 responses were received.
The main barriers to the
installation of solar panels
were found to be perceptions
of cost and uncertainty of
payback periods; perceptions
of development controls and
policies; a lack of knowledge
and understanding about
the different systems and
technologies; and a lack of
confidence in solar power
suppliers/installers.
“We need to raise the
profile and cost-effectiveness
of solar installation and arm
our community with more
information so they can make
informed decisions.”
Warren Yates is the
Director of Clear Sky Solar
Investments, a not-for-profit
social enterprise making
it possible for mum-anddad
investors to contribute
to clean energy. Formerly
the Head of the School of
Electrical Engineering at UTS,
he’s also a member of Clean
Energy For Eternity (CEFE), a
private action group which
aims to inform and educate
the public about the benefits
of residential solar uptake.
Mr Yates wants Council
to align with CEFE for the
greater good of solar uptake.
“It’s easy for Council to set
and meet targets on its own
properties, thus contributing
ARRAY OF SUNSHINE:
Bayview Golf Club is
the latest commercial
venue to adopt solar.
to change – it’s a lot harder
to implement residentially
across the local government
area,” he told Pittwater Life.
Mr Yates said CEFE
hoped to make progress
working side by side with
Council staff, setting up
an ambassador’s program
in the coming months that
would allow fully trained and
accredited CEFE members to
door-knock households they
identified as being suitable
for solar and educate the
owners.
The proposal includes a
booklet that would be left
with homeowners, with
step-by-step information
comprising the roof, space,
electricity consumption,
battery options as well as
how to select an installer
– including how to choose
an installer from a pool of
accredited local providers on
Council’s books.
“We can’t do that as
ordinary citizens, we need
the backing of Council and
training so that we can guide
people through the process
of potential uptake,” he said.
The suggested timeline is
for the end of 2019.
“It’s not totally radical,
I’ve just got back from the
20 OCTOBER 2019
The Local Voice Since 1991