MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 3 January, 2012

Easier access to solar across NZ thanks to council initiatives

Nelson Mayor Aldo Miccio confirmed today that at least another six councils are considering new solar initiatives in their towns and cities, as part of their Solar Promise.

Mayor Aldo Miccio, the Nelson Environment Centre, and SolarCity launched The Solar Promise campaign in July this year, calling for councils, as well as central government, individuals and businesses, to do what they can to take away the barriers to solar, and make the technology more affordable.

Aldo Miccio says that based on Nelson’s experience one of the easiest things a council could do for its ratepayers is offer Solar Saver Schemes, an innovative rates-based financing mechanism to help home owners spread the cost of going solar. Councils can also waive solar resource consents to further remove cost barriers to solar.

“The Solar Saver Scheme has been a huge success for Nelson,” Miccio says. “In the scheme’s first year Nelson families put more solar systems on their roofs than the whole of Auckland City, immediately getting up to one week’s free power every month.

“The Solar Promise founders believe the Solar Saver Scheme is a vital policy tool for all councils, to assist their communities to reduce their energy costs, while also helping to maximise the contribution from solar to our nation’s renewable energy target,” he says. “There are also other ways to make solar more accessible and affordable to New Zealanders, and it is really great to see councils being innovative about what best suits their communities.

“There were a number of councils already looking into solar projects before we launched the Solar Promise, including the three Southland councils, Westland District Council (which waived consent fees in 2007), Auckland City Council and Dunedin City Council, but now New Plymouth, Marlborough, Wanganui, Hutt City and Wellington have also confirmed that solar initiatives are being introduced into their planning. The Hawke's Bay Regional Council has also proposed funding a solar hot-water scheme in its Draft Long Term Plan for 2012-22, and Hastings District Council has already indicated it is likely to support this recommendation.

“We are rapt that this new group of councils have decided to include solar in their planning,” he says. “It is a necessary step forward for New Zealanders, given that we are facing higher energy costs every month that goes by.

“I am also proud that Nelson is leading the way as New Zealand’s solar capital, cemented by us again having won the 2011 sunshine capital crown,” he says. “Stating our position as New Zealand’s solar capital is an example of us leveraging a key point of difference. We put a stake in the ground, proved the point, showed the way, and now others are following us. We need to continue in this vein in 2012 across more areas than just solar, if we want to realise our immense potential.”

Andrew Booth CEO of New Zealand’s leading solar power company SolarCity NZ Ltd, says the increased number of councils considering Solar Saver Schemes is crucial for New Zealand’s sustainable future.

“Few challenges facing our families and communities are more urgent than the rising cost of power for our homes, and the twin crisis of climate change and oil depletion,” Booth says. “New Zealand has a world-class solar resource yet according to EECA only about 35,000 New Zealand homes currently have solar.

“Councils have a central role to play in tackling climate change – and they are well placed to help New Zealand meet its renewable energy targets, as well as create jobs and reduce energy bills for people living in their community.”

For more information about the Nelson City Council’s Solar Saver Scheme go to http://www.nelsoncitycouncilco.nz/solar-saver-scheme/

Background to individual council offerings to ratepayers:

New Plymouth District Council
The New Plymouth District Council’s Policy Committee has recommended for the council to further investigate the most viable option for the Council to promote the more affordable installation of solar hot water heating in the district, including use of the voluntary targeted rate mechanism. Progress will be reported back within the next six months.
Wellington City Council
The Wellington City Council is working with the Wellington Regional Council to look at how a finance mechanism through a targeted rate for solar hot water systems, as well as encompassing other renewable, cleantech or ‘green’ technologies, could be offered through the Government’s Warmup NZ: Heatsmart programme.
The council is also looking at providing online interactive maps indicating the level of solar radiation across the city throughout the year – based on aspect and level of shading from hills or other buildings. Householders and businesses can assess the suitability of their location for solar technologies.
Wanganui District Council

At the Wanganui District Council, the provision of loans to be included in 10-Year Plan is being progressed.

Marlborough District Council

The Marlborough District Council already offers its ratepayers a funding mechanism to enable them to access EECA grants and install insulation and clean heating systems. The Solar Saver Scheme is now included in the Marlborough District Council’s Long Term and Annual Plans with the process and programme for solar water heating loans due to be signed off in February 2012. The Solar Water Heating Programme will be going live on 01 July 2012. The Council has also supported a pilot study across Marlborough to assess the performance of solar heated water systems used in this region.

Dunedin City Council

Solar Hot Water is one of a range of options being considered by the Dunedin City Council as part of its Healthy Homes programme – and will be considered as part of the Annual Plan process in beginning in January 2012.

Hutt City Council

The Hutt City Council’s commitment to the Solar Promise is a small part of a much larger initiative Hutt City is taking to promote environmental sustainability in the city. The Council has an Eco Design Advisor, who provides free consultations to residents about how to make their homes warmer, drier and more energy efficient. This consultation includes advice on the potential benefits of installing a solar water heating system. The council has found that barriers to installing solar systems are both the red tape and the fees. They have waived the red tape and the resource and building consent fees and are currently investigating a very exciting package for residents to encourage them to, amongst other initiatives, use a targeted rates scheme to install a solar system.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
The Hawke's Bay Regional Council has also proposed funding a solar hot-water scheme in its Draft Long Term Plan for 2012-22, and Hastings District Council has already indicated it is likely to support this recommendation.
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