02/02/2010 UCA Canberra Presbytery Letter Explaining the Group Concept by Peter Ellis

Faith Groups Solar Bulk Buy

Published
on 2 February 2010

27th January 2010 (updated 2 Feb 10)

FAITH GROUPS SOLAR BULK BUY

I am the UCA Presbytery of Canberra Region coordinator for a bulk buy of solar power systems. Please give this your consideration, and contact me for more information.

PLEASE NOTE that this deal is openly available to people who simply want to align themselves to our bulk-buy group.

Over the last several months a local community action group, SEE-Change, has been promoting its third bulk buy of solar power systems, this time reaching out to “faith groups” in the Canberra region.

SEE-Change (the ‘SEE’ in SEE-Change stands for Society, the Environment and the Economy) is a community, not-for-profit group that supports and inspires people to join together and act in a sustainable way. Its activities are practical, and based on local Canberra realities. In addition, its aim is to create workable project models to be picked up by other community groups Australia-wide. See more at www.see-change.org.au.

The SEE-Change Interfaith Committee has announced that six excellent proposals have been received from local renewable energy suppliers, both in terms of the prices for those installations and the strength of their ability to install your solar energy systems professionally and within a reasonable time frame.

The committee then selected three of these companies to outline the strengths of their proposals and to answer further questions posed to them by the committee. From these, a preferred supplier was selected:

Pyramid Power www.PyramidPower.com.au (Pyramid Power corporate brochure 160kB PDF) which began its corporate life in the Bega area of the Presbytery of Canberra Region, and has grown into the Canberra market in recent times. It employs some 65 people within area covered by the Presbytery, sources its product from acknowledged leading suppliers, trains local apprentices under its trades people, and now has three offices including Queanbeyan.

A meeting was held on Wednesday 27 January 2010, at the Wesley Music Centre, where SEE-Change and Pyramid Power presented the preferred supplier’s deal.

Please note that it is still possible for other interested potential customers (either households or faith communities) to join the bulk buy project.

 

02/02/2011  Our solar panels are feeding power into the grid

Our 162 solar panels are now feeding power into the grid. Since being switched on at lunchtime on Monday 2 August 2010, we have averaged almost 100 Kwh per day into the grid. This figure is expected to double in summer. In the first 6 months of operation we have generated 24.3 Megawatt-hours of electricity worth $11,105.00


 10/06/2010 Letter about solar panels from Gordon Ramsey, Presbytery Chairman

TO: churches in and near Canberra

Subject: Message to Churches - Faith Groups Solar Bulk Buy

I urge you to promote the involvement of people within the Presbytery in the Canberra-based Faith Groups Solar Bulk Buy, first proposed by SEE-Change www.see-change.org.au, because there is an underlying benefit for groups to form and pool their individual interest. In short, for every 30 systems organised by Presbytery, the preferred supplier will provide one 1.5kW solar grid power system to an eligible community project nominated by Presbytery. As things currently stand, the Presbytery is likely to have 60, or possibly 90 or 120 systems. Please also involve friends, family, community groups, etc, and churches, with this well-priced bulk buy, and they can count to the group total. The offer is open until 30 June 2010.

Apart from obvious environmental benefits, grid-connected solar electric systems return a financial benefit to the owner through the difference between the higher "Feed In Tariff" and the lower domestic consumption rate we pay for electricity. The tariff pay-back period is about 4-6 years. Various government benefits can also be accessed including the Green Loan (4 years interest free, up to $10,000).

Please see the extensive information available on the Presbytery web site www.canberraregion.unitingchurch.org.au and contact the organiser, Peter Ellis, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 6254 0262, to get further information or express your interest.

Gordon Ramsay

Presbytery Chairman


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

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.”


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