Enova Community Energy is proudly amongst a group of 20 community organisations which have banded together with the Community Power Agency to launch a 'Solar for All' campaign - calling on state governments to end solar lock-out and give all Australians access to safe and affordable energy.
More than one-third of Australians are locked out of access to clean energy generation because they rent, live in apartments, have unsuitable rooftops, or cannot afford the upfront cost of solar panels.
The coalition, led by the Community Power Agency, is calling for policy and funding support for solutions to the solar lockout, including solar gardens. These are centralised solar panels that people can purchase a small share in; the electricity generated by these panels is credited on consumers’ bills. In support of the campaign, Enova has endorsed the CPA’s Policy Brief: Solar for All Package, NSW.
We aim to offer these Australia-wide
“At Enova, we’re already actively pioneering solar gardens and aim to offer these Australia-wide in coming years,” said Enova CEO Felicity Stening. “The benefits of solar gardens are broad, but most importantly, they help make the benefits of renewable energy accessible to all. We don’t believe people who are priced out of owning a home should be further penalised.”
“Solar could cut household bills by hundreds of dollars a year, yet one-third of Australians can’t access savings due to the lack of rebates in this space.
“Enova supports the Solar For All campaign that’s asking elected leaders to quickly support solar gardens and rebates because everyone deserves access to clean electricity,” said Felicity.
Everyone deserves access to these benefits
“Solar energy reduces people’s electricity bills and cuts climate pollution. Everyone deserves to access these benefits, regardless of their living arrangements or income levels,” said Nicky Ison, founder and co-director, Community Power Agency.
“Governments can easily fix this unfair situation in Australia by funding solar garden trials and solar rebates for low-income and locked-out households.
“These simple solutions can help state governments deliver lower costs of living, better physical and mental health, and meaningful action on climate change. There are no downsides to this,” said Ison.
Solar gardens are a proven concept
In the United States, 1.3GWs of solar gardens are operating across 40 states and saving members of these communities hundreds of dollars per year, while importantly reducing emissions.
Community Power Agency was founded in 2011 to drive a faster and fairer transition to clean energy and operate with a belief that local, people-powered clean energy projects will bring lasting benefits to communities across Australia. Both Enova and CPA are working towards similar missions in achieving a transition to clean energy that benefits everyone, regardless of where you live, or what you earn.
Show your support
If you want to see more access to solar energy for all through support for solar gardens, please check out the campaign and get involved – the actions you can take are easy and they’re all outlined in the Solar For All campaign website.
