The feed-in tariff that is paid to solar households for energy that is exported into the electricity grid is a very sensitive issue because there are numerous stakeholders who are affected, not least the 10,000 Tasmanian households that have taken the initiative, in good faith, to install solar. All of these good people, plus the installing electricians and business that sell the solar equipment, are voters, so Minister Bryan Green has a delicate job in delivering what is fair and reasonable to everyone, not just to the power utilities.
When assessing the value of feed-in incentives two significant issues are often overlooked.
To date, Tasmanian householders together have invested an estimated $35 million in the purchase and installation of solar panels and these owners cover all maintenance expenses. This investment is delivered to all parts of Tasmania, from Deloraine to St Helens to Geeveston to Hobart and Launceston, wherever one sees solar panels on roofs. Thus this significant investment is helpful not only in dollar terms, but in employment terms throughout Tasmanian society. If a $35 million investment was made in Tasmania by a single company there would be much rejoicing, however when the same benefit is delivered by many small people that benefit tends to be unrecognised.
Secondly, it is now being claimed that the feed-in tariff should be dumped because solar business are making a profit from it. This is a rather odd argument. Why is it considered to be okay for the coal industry to make profits but not the solar industry? The whole idea behind initiatives such as the feed-in tariff was to level the playing field so that renewable energy could compete in the market place. If such policies work, as planned, this is not a good reason to abandon them.
• Last week on Tasmanian Times: Saving Our Solar
• John Thirgood: A new script for petitioners to email to Parliamentarians
To whom it may concern,
I would like to add my voice behind the campaign of Save Our Solar Tas.org.
Many thousands of Tasmanians, like me, who have invested in solar power to help cut their costs of living against out of control power costs, have participated in clean energy solutions by generating our own power at no expense to the Government. In fact I paid G.S.T. on my system as well.
These investments are being threatened by the possibility that feed-in tariffs reducing substantially , perhaps to 8 cents per kilowatt hour.
Without the feed-in tariff as we have it, my current and future investment will be scuttled by any decision to reduce the feed-in tariff to such a low level.
This also delivers a cash burden that I did not expect and which will further stress our household; cash-flow in already tough financial times that Tasmania is locked into for the foreseeable future .Tasmania runs a very poor last economically compared to all other states and the extra burden of a scuttled solar investment simply will make the situation worse.
The many solar businesses in Tasmania will be put at extreme risk of failing with a huge lost of jobs directly and indirectly in the industry. It is simply irresponsible to make Tasmania go further backwards with anything less than a 1:1 feed in Tariff.
Also, I am concerned with the local jobs that would be lost with the killing off further industry expansion and employment opportunity, and the future is resting on the outcome of this government decision.
I ask that you as a Member of the House of Assembly in Tasmania will keep an open ear to the calls from the community to maintain our 1:1 feed-in tariff. I ask that the Premier and other parliamentarians in Tasmania support the relevant legislation and action to protect our investments in solar grid connect systems, by preserving our one to one feed-in tariff in legislation and in any contract(s) to any new energy retailers, thus preserving the same for the good of the individual and Tasmania as whole.
Please, I urge you to prioritise this matter, without complacency, on both mine and Tasmania’s behalf.
Yours Sincerely,
• Monday April 29, John Thirgood, Alex Whiteside:
The solar industry in Tasmania has experienced a bare minimum of 30,000 work days in jobs locally – up substantially on previous records.
And almost double the previous 6,500 systems installed. And the size of systems (average 4.5 kw) is three times the average system of four4 years ago.
It is all great stuff for the Tasmanian economy.
Aurora constantly tells us it has been economizing, cutting costs and shaping up for competition. Employee numbers have dropped … but their annual report shows a massive increases in wages. Aurora sold $1.268 billion worth of energy to customers in Tasmania and interstate
http://www.aurora.com.au/pdf/about_aurora/annual_report_2012/At_a_glance.pdf
Aurora employed 998 people last year down 236 on last year but only down 87 from 2007-8 some five years ago.
Minister Bryan Green let’s get 1-1 done and focus on something important please ….
• John Thirgood’s message to Christine Milne:
Hi Christine,
I see no hint on Solar Feed In Tariffs or support of solar grid connect, the Tasmanian co-operative solar farm if you like.
We ( http://www.saveoursolar.org ) now have all but 2000 petitions so far and about to top 1000 Facebook friends.
Please consider re-considering the Green position on this vital issue; otherwise the Greens are effectively assisting the demise of solar power instead of embracing it wholeheartedly.
I am very willing to meet you and team and discuss our fresh approach that challenges the bean counters’ narrow approach.
I simply do not understand your party’s current thinking and policy as honourable for the Greens ethos …
• A rough idea of what the solar industry in Tasmania is worth: These are loose figures but close to the mark … the market total of installations is 12,500 systems (in the past four years) saving Tasmanians some $20,000,000 annually at present …
Here’s a rough breakdown:
12500 installations in last 4 years but last year 6000 installs average 4.5 kw system then 6000@$8k = $48,000,000 rough so $50 million directly
6000 installations a 1 day for 3 people sees 18,000 install work days on site plus Sales and back office say person 2 days each = x 6000 = 12000 work days total estimate 30,000 work days last work-week year
30000 work days sees divide 5 per = 6000 38 hr work weeks p.a. less 2 weeks for holidays sick etc each less apprentice days at training etc opportunity days so 45 say actual working week per employee sees 6,000 divide by 45 in sees 130 plus equivalent full time workers paid some $6,650,000 just directly in the retail and installation process.
Then carriers in Tas delivered 6000 inverters , some 120,000 panels and matching rail sets , local electrical suppliers some 20,000 sundry switches plus cable and conduit
Bank Loans turnover , media revenues , fuel vehicle s and maintenance and the list continues much deeper into the economy …
Figures are conservative estimates using market data …
• Alex Whiteside:
When I think our myopic state government has sunk as low as it can go they surprise me with more more half truths and outright lies …
I may live in the Huon Valley but resent being treated like a mushroom.
If Aurora is attractive to private investors, why don’t we keep it and use the profits to import/manufacture and Install Solar PV, Hot Water and Wind Power Systems.
This could have created thousands of jobs.
I wonder if the government has already agreed to another sweetheart deal ,with a potential buyer, to prevent any competitive power being supplied in Tasmania – Ever?
The Government buys cheap power for their own use, then sells our power at huge discounts as carbon free to the mainland and large local users.
They want us to pay for their perfidy. They steal our power and sell it at a profit to others …
JOHN THIRGOOD:
• Download:
SOS_Tas_Volunteer_Pack.pdf
