BREAZE newsletter
Barry Earsman
Notable excerpt:
Additionally, there is the inability of the Australian Greenhouse Office to give guidance regarding what will happen to future outstanding photovoltaic orders (reliant on the $8000 rebate for purchasing) if the (now) capped Federal rebate quota ($56 million) is exceeded prior to the end of financial year 2008-2009.
Barry
From: Nick Lanyon <nla...@ncable.net.au>
Date: Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Subject: BREAZE Email Part 2: Solar update and more
To: Nick Lanyon <nla...@ncable.net.au>
Dear BREAZErs
Here is Part 2. No wonder it was cut in half…
BUNINYONG BREAZErs…
Not mentioned in last email was that the Buninyong contingent can get their tickets to the teen climate change film launch film (with Prince Caspian) at 'Smartline' (cnr Warrenheip and Eyre Sts) – Ballaratians at Radmac
PHOTOVOLTAIC UPDATE AND A SURVEY TO PERUSE - - LET US KNOW HOW CHANGES TO THE REBATE HAVE AFFECTED YOU AND HELP US PLAN FOR FUTURE ROLL-OUT OF PV's FOR BREAZE MEMBERS
In a week when the Federal Minister for the Environment stood up in Parliament and said that the problem with the success of the Federal rebate was that it was "OVERHEATING" (Yep, you heard it right, folks. OVERHEATING. The problem was that the rebate was TOO SUCCESSFUL in moving Australia towards a renewable energy based future, and we can't have that!), we thought it was time for a photovoltaic update and a survey to help the BREAZE Committee determine the next steps regarding a bulk order of pv systems.
Also, due to the ever growing influx of BREAZE 'newies', we need to build some redundancy into our explanations (ie 'old' info is actually 'new' info for many), so it is important for the 'newies' to understand that as an association with clear legal limitations regarding the giving of advice and recommendation (ie we're not allowed to), BREAZE has had to tread a fine line between helping to bring its members in contact with commercial providers of low cost renewable energy solutions, while trying to avoid being perceived (by BREAZE members and the wider community) of giving its endorsement to any one single commercial solution.
Although breazers may have felt that there has not been much going on since the BBE/Red Energy presentation at Cooinda, there has actually been quite a bit of work going on in the background and the Committee has been taking stock of the various options. Essentially, when the BBE offer was $500, most conversations with BREAZE members (even with the brand of pv panels remaining undisclosed to BREAZE - now known to be 'Tai Zho Sopray' panels, btw), the common comment was, "For $500 bucks, I'll give it a go." In light of this initial membership momentum, the BREAZE Committee felt adequately 'mandated 'to bring its members in contact with BBE so that members could ask questions and satisfy themselves about the workings of the scheme. This decision was coupled with the fact that BBE carried the $8000 up front cost represented by the Federal rebate and customers bore no risk in relation to the Federal rebate as there was (then) no threat of its abolition, means-testedness or, as currently exists, a yearly cap on rebate approvals.
However, the raising of the BBE offer from $500 to a self-funded $9000-ish and other factors, along with a new means test (leaving people with combined incomes of $100,000+ ineligible for the $8,000 Federal Government rebate), gave the Committee cause for pause. Additionally, there is the inability of the Australian Greenhouse Office to give guidance regarding what will happen to future outstanding photovoltaic orders (reliant on the $8000 rebate for purchasing) if the (now) capped Federal rebate quota ($56 million) is exceeded prior to the end of financial year 2008-2009. We feel that now is a good time to 'take the pulse' of the BREAZE membership regarding pv's to help the Committee make decisions that reflect the key values and priorities of the membership.
The survey is doing two things (it DOES NOT need to be completed by the 75 householders currently in the BBE scheme):
1 By completing the short survey below, we will get a sense of how many people the Federal Government means test decision has affected you. Your experience needs to be numerically tabulated if any current political policy is to change and there are some signs that pressure from people will achieve this. If you've missed out, WRITE! There is a link to a BREAZE generated protest/lobby letter on the survey page that can be downloaded and used as a template, along with parliamentary addresses.
2 However, regardless of whether you find yourself eligible or non-eligible for the rebate, we'd like to hear from you, as there are some things the BREAZE Committee would like to know as we are rapidly fashioning a way forward with photovoltaic "bulk purchasing" options and are looking for some guidance from BREAZE folk about what they are happy to consider.
The survey is utterly confidential, with no names or identifying questions asked. There are only 5 short questions and the survey should only take a minute to complete. Thanks to Andrew Bray for his speedy work in creating it!
SURVEY: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=q4g9h7ur9g5fZ7laak6fDQ_3d_3d
NOTE: The rebate is capped at 56.6 million, but due to the pace with which the AGO is receiving pre-approval applications, BREAZE is looking to move VERY SPEEDILY with this. The survey will be analysed on the weekend and the Committee will come to a final decision on the options on Monday night. Pending this outcome, this will be followed with a BREAZE meeting at the Cooinda Centre, almost immediately, where we hope to fill out AGO approval forms for those interested right there and then. BREAZE is likely to employ a person in the short term in order for this work to be accomplished in a rapid manner. Wouldn't it be nice if Governments did not have to make us work in this manner? Hmmmm….FILL IN THAT SURVEY AND HOLD ON TO YOUR PHOTOVOLTAIC HATS...!
In terms of the BBE rollout, the latest is that the local installation team have started to put BBE systems on the roof, with 7 systems installed over the last week or so. Progress! The installations are following the order with which the AGO rebate approvals filter back on their circuitous route to the installation team, with the 7 approvals coming back in recently and a handful more expected this week. The installation team are notifying households as they come in, and households will need to contact BBE (not BREAZE!) with any enquiries you may have, particularly ones pertaining to the provision of Smart Meters via Red Energy. Post the presentation night, people OUTSIDE of the initial two neighbourhoods have been contacting BREAZE, confused about whether they needed to swap across to Red Energy in order to facilitate access to any additional solar neighbourhood. Essentially, any people that are currently OUTSIDE of the initial BBE neighbourhoods should feel no requirement to swap from their current energy retailer across to Red Energy (if that was their sole reason to do so). Similarly, households WITHIN the BBE scheme are under no obligation to do so, either, but it is a choice they need to consider.
STATE GOVERNMENT FEED IN TARIFF - STILL TIME TO TRY AND INFLUENCE THIS POLICY
As mentioned in the last email, the State Government's Feed-in-Tariff was very disappointing. It sounds like there was a showdown in cabinet, with Peter Batchelor getting his way by threatening to hand in his resignation if the tariff was not watered down. Premier Brumby and Minister for Climate Change, Gavin Jennings apparently backed down, although it has been reported as a 'heated' exchange. Regardless of the truth of such political gossipry, State politicians (on both sides of the fence) have sought BREAZE's opinion in order to get an insight into how this decision will effect the punters on the ground in terms of photovoltaic take-up. They want to know, so we need to tell them. Breazers can download a protest/lobby letter that focuses on the lack of incentive that now exists, given the Federal Government rebate decision that the State government was 'piggy backing' on, in order to provide financial incentive. A letter can be downloaded from the website (although please write your own, if you can), along with a document that gives the addresses of State politicians. This policy won't change without feedback. The relevant ministers in particular should be contacted, along with the members in the Legislative Council that hold the balance of power in the Upper House (Liberal/National/Green/DLP) who could join together to defeat the legislation in the Upper House. The numbers currently stand at
ALP 19
LIB 15
NAT 2
GRN 3
DLP 1
TOTAL 40
The Letter is on the website, along with a doc containing the postal addresses. Go to left hand side menu and 'Document Library'> 'Policies and Submissions' > 'Submissions' - there is also one for the Federal Government rebate decision (see above)
Please send one, as it takes a lot longer to write the buggers than it takes to simply print one off!
SOLAR HOT WATER
Jeff Dobell (he of the greenhouse – see below) has been doing an excellent job of looking after the solar hot water stuff, however, he is about to go on holidays. Any solar hws orders that come in will remain on file, awaiting his return….
BREAZWAP SPOTLIGHT - THE 'RIGHT' KIND OF GREENHOUSE...
"Looking for a hot house frame, the type made from galvinised pipe, usually arched with vertical uprights on each side, which has the clear plastic stretched over it. If you have the whole unit or just the frames lying around covered in grass I'm interested." EMAIL jeff....@dhs.vic.gov.au
SLIGHT CORRECTION TO SUSTAINABLE HOUSE DAY
WHEN: Register at Buninyong Golf Club, Midland Highway (700m west of roundabout) from 9.30am (Registration open 9.30m-2pm) Houses are open 10am to 4pm.
"MY, WHAT A BIG SWEDE YOU HAVE…"
Michele Harvie says..."I am looking for someone to help with organising the Ballarat Region Organic Home-grown Veggie Competition The BREAZE Local Food Production Group takes delight in sponsoring the prize for the best Ballarat region organically home-grown vegetable at the 2008 Ballarat Agricultural Show"
1st prize $150,
2nd prize$75,
3rd prize $50.
The Ballarat Show is a local institution, so partnering with them is an excellent way to promote ourselves and our aspirations to the wider Ballarat Community. We had a poster up promoting this new event at last year's show. We have until November to organize a co-sponsor, prizes and the appropriate judges for the competition. Please contact Michele Harvie mic...@breaze.org.au IF YOU CAN HELP
BOOK RECOMMENDATION FROM CHARLENE
I recently bought a copy of "The Transition Handbook: from oil dependency to local resilience" and it is excellent. It is available from the Hepburn Permaculture Gardens, email in...@holmgren.com.au or phone 53483636, for $27 pickup or $35 posted. Either way is still below RRP.
The book is 240 pages, 100% recycled paper. You can read my review of it here: http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6194287
Basically it is a handbook of ideas for everything BREAZE is trying to do!
Climatically Yours,
Nick Lanyon
(for the BREAZE Committee)
EVENTS NOT ENDORSED BY BREAZE BUT OF POSSIBLE INTEREST TO BREAZE MEMBERS
Annual General Meeting: Enfield Forest Alliance: All Welcome!
Tuesday, 24th June, 2008 at 7.30pm
Ross Creek Community Hall
Sebastopol–Smythesdale Road, Ross Creek
The AGM will commence at 7.30pm (sharp) with reports from the coordinator/treasurer and the secretary, followed by the election of office bearers for 2008/09. Please come and support this meeting, and have an input in the future of our group. Your joining the committee and becoming part of the team and thus keeping the group fresh and effective would also be very welcome and appreciated. A short coffee/tea break will be next which will be followed by the highlight of the evening:
Dr. Fred Cahir, International Student Academic Adviser at the University of Ballarat will speak on The History of Aboriginal Occupation in this Region
Dr. Cahir's presentation will include a fascinating insight into the interaction of aboriginals with the settlers and the mining fraternity in this area, a topic that many of us have a great interest in.There will be an opportunity to ask questions, please bring yours along and ask, so that we all may learn.
For inquiries regarding this flyer please phone Heidi on 5342 0719
Bernie Dwyer
Bernie Dwyer
***********************
Mark Gerrard
I still have my reservations about BBE though & if they can pull it off. Their systems are getting more expensive too.
SM have been pondering which way to go re a PV bulk buy - BBE or do it ourselves (similar to Local Power in Bris) - and to that end there's a letter to the editor in TRN today calling for any interest in being part of a bulk buy scheme. We'll send something out to the general mailing list as well.
Depending on how much interest is expressed we can make a decision on how we go about it. The gov regulations are really in a state of flux at the moment - state & federal - re rebates, feed-in-tariffs (talk of a national FIT being decided in October - net or gross, who knows), means testing etc. We need to be careful we don't get burnt in the process.
Cheers Mark
Anne
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Tony Ullman
From: Mark GerrardSent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 1:23 PMSubject: [sm-energy] Re: BREAZE newsletter
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ErikZ
Just to advise 50 installations have been completed for Beyond
Building in Victoria. Ballarat, Sandringham, Hampton and Black Rock
solar neighbourhoods are all underway. Currently there are2-3
installations per day going up.
On Jun 12, 12:44 am, "Barry Earsman" <barryears...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi folks, here's news from our big sister organisation, BREAZE, in
> bulk-buy, and are now looking at a PV scheme, possibly with Beyond Building
> Energy. Sound familiar?
>
> Notable excerpt:
>
> > Additionally, there is the inability of the Australian Greenhouse Office to
> > give guidance regarding what will happen to future outstanding photovoltaic
> > orders (reliant on the $8000 rebate for purchasing) if the (now) capped
> > Federal rebate quota ($56 million) is exceeded prior to the end of financial
> > year 2008-2009.
>
> Barry
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Nick Lanyon <nlan...@ncable.net.au>
> Date: Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 11:51 PM
> Subject: BREAZE Email Part 2: Solar update and more
> To: Nick Lanyon <nlan...@ncable.net.au>
>
> Dear BREAZErs
>
> Here is Part 2. No wonder it was cut in half…
>
> Not mentioned in last email was that the Buninyong contingent can get their
> tickets to the teen climate change film launch film (with Prince Caspian) at
> 'Smartline' (cnr Warrenheip and Eyre Sts) – Ballaratians at Radmac
>
> POLICY*
> Jeff Dobell (he of the greenhouse – see below) has been doing an excellent
> job of looking after the solar hot water stuff, however, he is about to go
> on holidays. Any solar hws orders that come in will remain on file, awaiting
> his return….
>
> "Looking for a hot house frame, the type made from galvinised pipe, usually
> arched with vertical uprights on each side, which has the clear plastic
> stretched over it. If
>
>
> read more »- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -