Wesley and St Aidan’s Uniting Church
Canberra Central Parish
in Forrest and Narabundah
27/01/2010 Media Release for the meeting held at Wesley
SEE-Change organised a meeting at Wesley to brief interested people.
The media release for the faith-group meeting at Wesley on 27/1/10.
24/05/2010 Construction Start at Wesley
Construction is now expected to start on Wesley Lancaster Hall on 24/5/10.
14/05/2010 News about Exemption of solar feed-in-tariff credits
Friday, 14 May 2010 14:20
“The Australian Government’s decision to exempt solar feed-in-tariff credits from the income test puts pensioners’ minds at ease,” said CPSA Policy Coordinator, Charmaine Crowe.
“Pensioners participating in solar feed-in-tariff schemes were very concerned about possibly losing some of their pension as a result of being credited for electricity they’ve produced from installing solar panels and feeding electricity back into the grid.”
“Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin has today announced that credits received under the feed-in-tariff schemes will not be treated as income under the pension income test.”
“This is good news for pensioners, who have generally outlaid thousands of dollars to install solar panels because of escalating electricity prices and a commitment to doing the right thing for the environment.”
17/02/2011 Feed-In Tariff Extended To Include Medium Scale Generation
Published: February 17, 2011, 5:12 pm
Section: Simon Corbell, MLA | Media Releases
The ACT has again set an Australian-first by passing legislation to allow for medium scale solar installations to access the ACT's highly successful feed-in tariff, Minister for Energy, Simon Corbell, said.
"The passage of the Electricity Feed-in (Renewable Energy Premium) Act 2008 into law today takes Canberra another step towards becoming Australia's solar capital," Mr Corbell said.
"This legislation is very important for two reasons; firstly to give the solar industry the certainty it needs to invest in medium and large scale generation, and to ensure the ongoing success of the feed-in tariff scheme into the future," Mr Corbell said.
"We have already seen a high level of uptake in the micro generation category, with more than 3,500 installations on roofs in the ACT, and I am confident that there will be similar enthusiasm from the wider community to embrace the scheme.
"The amendments will be instrumental in supporting the growth of renewable energies in the ACT and the resulting emission savings and economic opportunities," Mr Corbell said.
Key aspects to the amended feed-in tariff legislation include:
- re-naming the existing household component as Micro Generator;
- creation of the Medium Generator and the Community Based Generation categories;
- introduction of capacity caps for both new categories (15 megawatts each);
- provide for a mechanism by which the Premium Price applicable to each category may be set and reviewed; and
- extend scheme eligibility to include not-for-profit community organisations.
"These amendments will enable both individuals and community organisations greater access to the scheme and a greater ability to do their part in reaching our greenhouse gas emission targets," Mr Corbell said.
"With these amendments, individuals occupying rental or structurally unsuitable properties will be able to more easily participate and community groups can develop co-operatives to collectively develop shared generators.
"To support the development of co-operative generators, my department has developed the Solar Pays Community Guide.
"The Community Guide provides information on the ‘what' and ‘how' of collective generators and will be an important and useful tool for community groups.
"The Government will also introduce separate legislation later this year to support the development of even larger scale facilities and will then follow this process with an auction for the first 40MW tranche."
"The Government will monitor closely the changes in market activity, and will respond accordingly to ensure that the clean economy continues to grow in the ACT."
For more information on the ACT Feed-in Tariff Scheme, visit http://www.solarcapital.act.gov.au/
Media Contact:
Patrick Cronan 6205 0401 0432 758 224 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
12/02/2010 Emails from SEE-Change sent to interested people after the Wesley Meeting
From: admin see-change <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Fri, Feb 12, 2010 at 11:55 AM
Subject: Next Steps - Solar Communities
To: SEE-Change <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>, H Palethorpe <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Cc: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friends,
In order to ensure all participants of the Solar Communities – SEE-Change Interfaith Group receive the current Feed-In Tariff rate (50c kwh), which may change at the end of June, we would like to speed things along from this end.
Consequently, after much deliberation, we thought it prudent to pass on the details you gave to us at the Public meeting on 27th January, directly to Pyramid Power. We are extremely mindful of your privacy however and urge you to request Pyramid Power (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) remove your name from the list if you have any concerns. Alternatively you can contact Anne at our office on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Your privacy rights are of the utmost importance to us and we have secured a guarantee from Pyramid Power that they will:
1) Maintain your confidentiality,
2) Remove your name should you request it,
3) Only use this list for the purposes of this Interfaith Project,
4) Not on-sell your details.
They are keen to start planning small public meetings for each cluster as soon as possible, so you will need to nominate a co-ordinator for your group promptly, if you plan to take advantage of the free 1.5kw system/30 installation process.
Finally, we are still receiving a number of requests from people keen to join the initiative (and more are welcome to join) and Pyramid would like to link them with a near-by cluster so that your cluster is in a stronger position to receive the free 1.5kW system. In order to do that they need the name of your cluster coordinator. Please send the details of your coordinator to Pyramid Power (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and to SEE-Change (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). You will be given a priority response from Andy Brown, the designated Pyramid Power staff person who will deal with the Interfaith bulk buy.
We look forward to the prompt start of this process, and are always keen to receive feedback on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We also look forward to signing you up as a member of SEE-Change if you have not already done so www.see-change.org.au
Yours sincerely,
Helen Palethorpe and Vanessa Morris
--
SEE-Change
www.see-change.org.au
6162 2320
Downer Community Centre,
Frencham Place, Downer
PO Box 7025, Watson, ACT 2602
From: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on behalf of admin see-change [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]
Sent: Wednesday, 3 February 2010 2:13 PM
To: SEE-Change; H Palethorpe
Subject: SEE-Change Interfaith Solar Initiative
Hello everyone
Thank you very much for coming to the meeting last Wednesday evening and for your interest in the SEE-Change's Interfaith Solar initiative. We're delighted you are considering installing photo-voltaic cells on the roof(s) of your faith organisation or on your own household roof.
We met with Pyramid Power yesterday and can inform you about the next few stages of the process if you are ready to proceed to purchase.
1. Make contact with Pyramid Power. Visit their website atwww.pyramidpower.com.au. Click on the ‘Interfaith” tab at the top of the page. (The web site is being upgraded and will be ready late this afternoon or tomorrow). Please note: you must make the first contact with Pyramid Power, they will not be contacting you.
2. Follow their '5 simple steps' list on their site, to help you go through the process with the ease.
Yesterday we clarified with Pyramid Power the issue of forming “clusters” in order to benefit from their offer of a free 1.5kW system for each 30 systems installed. They assured us that individuals can contact them and deal with them directly. However, if “clusters” can be formed the offer of a free 1.5kW system is available for your church or a community organisation of your choice.
So…..
a) What do we do first?
If you wish to proceed on an individual basis, contact Pyramid Power. They will send out an information package.
If you wish to take advantage of the free 1.5kw system for your faith group's roof, you'll need to appoint a co-ordinator, who will then be the main contact for Pyramid Power in the beginning.
b) What do we do if we are a small faith group with fewer than 30 members?
You have a choice: either you go ahead as originally planned and don't receive the free 1.5kw system - OR SEE-Change will help bring smaller groups together. It may mean that the free 1.5kw system will not go onto the faith group's roofs, but the combined parties choose another not-for-profit's roof instead, but we can talk about that down the track.
c) What will organiser's responsibilities be after they've recruited the 30 systems?
They will be the person who communicates with Pyramid’s appointed bulk buy manager Andy Brown at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and with the members of the bulk buy “cluster”.
Finally we thought you'd be reassured to know that Pyramid Power will be running two sessions for each 'cluster': one to answer further questions and give a full briefing for new arrivals. The second for those who want to sign on. They will be approximately 6 weeks apart.
About SEE-Change. (SEE stands for Society, Environment, Economy)
SEE-Change has organised this bulk buy with a group of volunteers in order to take community, grass-roots action on climate change.
We rely solely on government funding and membership fees, so we would greatly appreciate you joining SEE-Change if you take part in this bulk buy. Membership entitles you to our newsletter, free or discounted entry to all SEE-Change events, voting rights on SEE-Change Inc (our central steering committee) and the opportunity to join us on an incredible journey to help transform our city.
Climate Change can be an overwhelming subject - and governments can't do everything - so we've decided to take responsibility, get on with it, and feel good in the process. And we'd love you to join us.
SEE-Change is a local community organisation made up of people such as yourself, who are committed to transforming Canberra into a sustainable community. Our members' Vision is to 'inspire, inform and support action to reduceCanberra's ecological footprint' and we are thrilled your community has been inspired to join our community for the betterment of our planet's long term health, as well as your own faith organisation!
We are made up almost entirely of local volunteers and our members contribute in a wide range of ways. Some run hands-on workshops to demonstrate how we can grow our own food, preserve fruit and veges and compost home scraps. Some host 'Over The Back Fence Tours' where you can visit their gardens, and homes, to see how they are 'reducing their ecological footprints' and saving money in the process. Others are renting out bike trailers or running Interfaith Solar Bulk Buys.
If you choose to join SEE-Change, you'll receive updated information on all of these events and more. Annual membership is $25 per household (for up to three adults),$10 for low income earners or $50 for an organisation (Church etc). Please see attached forms or visit our website at www.see-change.org.au and click on to learn more. We also hope to have forums up soon on solar issues, so stay tuned.
Feel free to contact the SEE-Change office at (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Helen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you have further questions or concerns.
Yours sincerely,
Helen Palethorpe, Convenor, SEE-Change Interfaith Solar Bulk Buy and
Vanessa Morris, Executive Officer
--
SEE-Change
www.see-change.org.au
02 6162 2320
Downer Community Centre,
Frencham Place, Downer
PO Box 7025, Watson, ACT 2602