MEDIA RELEASE
26-3-26
The Clarence Community Climate Group congratulates Councillors for the motion on energy optimisation and electrification which was passed at Council’s meeting on March 19.
In welcoming this decision, Convener of the Group, Rob Mylchreest said, “This comprehensive motion looked at ongoing renewable energy electrification possibilities for both Council and the Clarence Valley community. While both Council and many householders are already making use of renewable energy, we know that building on this process and getting more of the community involved will bring major individual and societal benefits. These will include cost savings and improvement in health as well significant reductions in carbon emissions when the electrification comes from renewable energy such as rooftop solar.”
The motion, which passed on a 7-2 vote, was submitted by Cr Peter Johnston as a follow-up from the visit to the Clarence last year by engineer and author Dr Saul Griffith, co-founder of RewiringAustralia.
Dr Griffith, is an important promoter of renewable energy and the value of electrification in both the United States and Australia. He does not advocate a sudden holus-bolus move by households away from reliance on fossil fuel energy. He promotes a gradual shift from the use of gas/oil/petrol and its replacement with more efficient household appliances and transport vehicles when the existing ones have reached the end of their service life. This he says is the most cost-effective way of transitioning for households.
“The installation of rooftop solar has been a game-changer for many people,” said Mr Mylchreest. He pointed out that access to clean, cheaper energy provided an incentive to use this energy on as broad a scale as possible leading to installation of more efficient and cleaner electric appliances like induction cooktops and heat-pump hot water systems and also to the purchase of hybrid and electric cars. When solar panel prices dropped over recent years, more householders could afford them so that now around 41% in the Clarence have them installed. And more recently the government subsidy on batteries has made them more affordable as backup for those with rooftop solar.
However, Mr Mylchreest acknowledges that more needs to be done with electrification as there is an equity issue with a significant number of householders – those who are not well-off or who rent their homes – not benefiting from the transition. He wonders whether the various levels of government are planning to address this issue in the near future.
On the Clarence Valley Council front he says that while Council has been making progress with aspects of electrification there are at least two areas where improvement could be made. Council could improve cost savings if it changed some energy usage in the caravan parks it manages. Secondly the LGA is poorly served in relation to public electric vehicle charging facilities – probably less of an issue for local EV owners but certainly a disincentive for those visiting the area as tourists.
Our Group hopes that a mooted community Renewable Energy Expo comes to fruition locally.
Clarence Community Climate Group: ccccgrp@gmail.com
