Solar Citizens

Harnessing clean energy from rooftops in our built environment is critical to driving down the cost of living, which is why Solar Citizens Chair Genevieve Kelly and CEO Heidi Lee Douglas attended a candidates forum today hosted by the Sydney Alliance today, where we pushed for cost of living savings for more residents by asking the Mayoral and Councillor candidates for the City Of Sydney what they commit to doing about providing renewable energy. We heard how the City of Sydney has implemented a Smart Green Apartments program including EV Charging and Batteries, with a savings of $6.1 million to residents. And how new commercial buildings must be net zero by 2026. And how the City of Sydney has banned gas in new residential developments. Whilst most candidates supported clean energy, many of the answers from candidates lacked specificity, so we encourage them to meet with Solar Citizens to learn more about this issue and read our Solar Potential report. One candidate, from the Libertarian party, was anti-renewables.

Our CEO Heidi Lee Douglas coming in hot with this opinion piece 🔥

A record 250,000 home batteries are now installed across Australia 🔋☀️ Did you see the New Daily story today with comment from our National Director Heidi Lee Douglas? Spoiler: here's her take on the milestone: "The Sunwiz data shows Aussie households are keen to install household batteries to compliment their rooftop solar, but the high upfront cost remains an impediment to most people and families.

 "Solar Citizens supports greater targeted financial support from the Federal and state governments for more homes to access clean solar technology, including low-income households and people who live in apartments, rentals or social housing.
 "If we're going to achieve one million household batteries by 2030, we need Federal Government support to meet community demand, fast-track battery uptake and start driving down prices. This will bring further cost of living relief for households with solar as batteries allow households to use their stored rooftop solar when the sun isn’t shining and at a time that suits them most. 
 "Household batteries save households money in the long run, but they can also drive down energy bills for everyone by providing grid security and addressing network congestion. More batteries in the system also open up opportunities for larger rooftop solar installations.

 "Rooftop solar with household batteries is the quickest and cheapest way to get more renewables into the system and deal with peak demand. If the Federal Government is serious about meeting its renewable energy targets they will take action to support the uptake of household batteries." https://lnkd.in/g8Kk3HFc

Solar Citizens has welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s proposed modelling for a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard that delivers cost-of-living and health benefits. The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) requires vehicle manufacturers to meet pollution emissions targets each year. Most countries worldwide already have a standard in place, making Australia a dumping ground for less efficient vehicles that are more expensive to run. Government analysis found a strong NEVS could save the average consumer $1000 per year on fuel and save all Australian motorists $100 billion by 2050.

It's the first ever International Day of Clean Energy tomorrow! The UN has established the day to celebrate clean energy, the benefits it brings and look ahead at the work still needed for a just and inclusive transition to renewables. Luckily, 2023 gave us plenty of clean energy records to look back on. In addition to being a landmark year in Australia, globally renewable energy capcity also grew by the fastest pace in 20 years!

MEDIA RELEASE: Solar Citizens welcomes Federal inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles in Australia. You can read the full release here: https://lnkd.in/gyPDSZZD

You did it - $206 million for energy upgrades and solar for social housing in NSW ☀️ A joint commitment by the NSW and Federal governments will invest $206 million for energy upgrades and rooftop solar for social housing residents and solar for people living in apartments. Watch Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO of Solar Citizens and Cat Coghlan from Sydney Alliance as they react to the big news and thank everyone who has worked making this happen. Recent Solar Citizens-commissioned research showed social housing residents can save up to $860 each year on energy bills if rooftop solar is installed on their properties. The NSW Government should expand its support so everyone in social housing can access the benefits of solar, where possible.

Join Heidi Lee Douglas from Solar Citizens and Cat Coughlan from Sydney Alliance as they discuss the NSW and Federal governments' effort to invest $206 million in energy upgrades and rooftop solar for social housing residents. Recorded straight after the press conference in Western Sydney, Heidi and Cat welcome the big win and vow to keep going until there's a NSW Government commitment to support solar on all suitable social housing properties! You can read more in the joint media release here: https://lnkd.in/eekMYcAG And welcome back Sunny!

Did you catch our CEO Heidi Lee Douglas on 10 News Sydney last night? She was talking about the power of solar to deliver hundreds of dollars in energy bill savings for people in social housing 💪 Heidi joined some big names in NSW and Federal politics gathered in Western Sydney yesterday for a big announcement - a joint effort by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments to fund $206 million for energy upgrades and rooftop solar for social housing residents. Thank you to everyone who petitioned NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe, last September asking for more support for social housing residents to access clean, cheap rooftop solar. This announcement is a major start but there is much more to do! We will keep going until we get a commitment from the NSW Government to get solar on all suitable social housing properties.

Yesterday, a huge win for energy equity came in the form of a Federal and NSW government announcement of $206 million for energy upgrades to NSW social housing. Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas is quoted by RenewEconomy on the investment: “Solar Citizens has been alongside the community sector in calling for this and we’d like to see the initial investment expanded to include a plan and timeline to deliver rooftop solar for all suitable social housing properties." “Rolling out rooftop solar on social housing can save low-income households an average of $860 per year.”