Solar policy hit

Ranges Trader Mail
Tuesday 17/6/2008 Page: 7

A RENEWABLE energy group says changes to the Federal Government solar rebate scheme discourages residents from installing solar panels. Under the Federal Government's Solar Homes and Communities Plan, an applicant's household income must be less than $100,000 to qualify for a cash rebate of up to $8000. Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association president Peter Cook said the rebate changes had forced some people to pull out of the group's solar energy project.

Mr Cook said many people would like to install solar panels but found the expense prohibitive. A spokesman for Environment Minister Peter Garrett said the rebate help those who could least afford to install solar panels. La Trobe MP Jason Wood said changes to the scheme let down the people of La Trobe and failed to address climate change. "solar power is not something that should only to be available to a certain section of the population," he said.

Mr Cook said another issue for people when considering solar panels was the lack of a 'genuine' feed-in tariff system. He said the smaller home systems eligible for the standard tariff would not produce enough electricity to power a home and feed excess power into the grid. A rebate would be unnecessary if the tariff system were improved, he said.

"A genuine system would cut payback time at least in half." But a spokesman for Victorian Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor challenged Mr Cook's suggestions. Although a system may produce less energy over a whole day than what was used in the home, he said, the owner would be paid for any period when there was excess electricity going into the grid.