10 March 2008
- Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett
today launched the $37 million Alice Springs
Solar City, which will help the local community
save energy, save money and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
As part of the launch
Minister Garrett joined Northern Territory
Chief Minister Paul Henderson to open the
Alice Solar City Smart Living Centre.
“This fantastic one-stop
shop showcases solar hot water, photovoltaic
systems, energy efficient lighting and smart
metering technologies – with a host of solar
and energy-saving offers,” Mr Garrett said.
“For example, energy-wise
residents who cut their electricity use
by between 10 to 20 per cent will receive
a 10 per cent discount on their bill. If
they cut their bill by even more they are
rewarded with a 20 per cent discount.
“This is what Solar
Cities is all about – helping families and
businesses take action on climate change
and seeing what works best so that we can
roll it out to the rest of the nation.
“It’s about building
a low carbon future.”
Mr Garrett said that Alice Springs enjoyed
one of the highest levels of sunlight in
the world and that more than half of Alice
Springs households were already harnessing
the sun’s energy with solar hot water.
“Alice Springs is a
unique example of how the Australian Government’s
Solar Cities program is learning more about
the needs of a remote community in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Garrett said.
“We’ll be collecting
vital data through installing solar photovoltaic
panels on homes and businesses, rolling
out solar hot water systems and smart meters
and providing solar installations for iconic
sites around Alice Springs.
Northern Territory Chief
Minister Paul Henderson said that the six
year Alice Solar City project would bring
many benefits to the Alice Springs community
and would position the town as a leader
in sustainable living.
“The project will bring
many benefits to the community, businesses
and residents by reducing greenhouse emissions,
conserving energy and saving dollars through
energy efficiency,” Mr Henderson said.
The Minister for Defence
Science and Personnel, and Member for Lingiari,
Warren Snowdon, said Alice Springs was forging
a new pathway in the use of energy efficient
technologies and solar energy.
“As well as increased
public awareness in sustainable energy use,
Alice Springs will save around 10,667 kilowatt
hours in electricity demand and 12,000 tonnes
of greenhouse gas emissions per year,” Mr
Snowdon said.
The Alice Springs Consortium
will receive $12.3 million under the Australian
Government’s Solar Cities initiative and
the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program.
The consortium, consisting
of the Alice Springs Town Council, Northern
Territory Government, Northern Territory
Power and Water Corporation, the Desert
Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Arid
Lands Environment Centre, Tangentyere Council
and the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce
will contribute $7.3 million to the project.
Other contributions will be sourced to bring
the total project value to $37 million.
Australian Government’s
Solar Cities program: www.environment.gov.au/solarcities
Renewable Remote Power Generation Program:
www.environment.gov.au/renewable/rrpgp
Margot Marshall
