The Electric Vehicle Council, Solar Citizens and Good Car Company are today calling on support from all sides of politics to accelerate the introduction of a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), and not delay the cost of living and other benefits further.

Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO of Solar Citizens has responded to Nationals leader David Littleproud’s calls, as quoted in the Australian Financial Review (21 Feb), for a moratorium on large-scale renewable energy projects, in favour of household energy subsidies. 

“The Australian Energy Market Operator has been clear in their modelling - both household and large-scale renewable energy and storage are required to meet reliability and sustainability targets in the energy grid in coming years. Household storage has been identified as the yawning gap in the Federal government policy to realise the AEMO’s modelling.’ 

‘Rooftop solar is not in competition with large-scale renewables, the two are complimentary. We urge all decision-makers to put customer energy bills at the heart of renewable energy policy, which means delivering both. 

‘The biggest risk to customer energy bills in the Nationals’ fixation on nuclear energy - which is unproven, unavailable in the market and would be delivered at huge risk of cost and time blow-outs. Renewable generation and storage - at large and household scale - provide cheap energy and are largely available off the shelf. 

'The energy market, in which households are increasingly important participants, is after certainty and we want our elected officials to get on it. 

Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas is available for interview

Media contact: Heidi Douglas 0401 092 570

Solar Citizens has welcomed the introduction of legislation for Queensland’s Clean Economy Jobs Bill and a 75% carbon reduction target for the state by 2035.

Heidi Lee Douglas, CEO at Solar Citizens, said, “Queensland is on the frontline of the impacts of climate-fuelled extreme weather events and the new carbon reduction target of 75% by 2035 makes the state well-placed to be part of the solution.

“The good news is reduced emissions and reduced energy bills go hand-in-hand –  a win-win for households, communities and the economy.

“Queenslanders have already reduced emissions by installing a million rooftop solar installations, and now we need greater targeted financial support for more homes to access clean solar technology, including low-income households and people who live in apartments, rentals or social housing.

Solar Citizens urges political leaders to resist the ramping up of industry disinformation and support the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard for the cost of living and health benefits delivered for the community.

Government analysis found if Australia catches up with the emission standard in the U.S. by around 2028, people will save:

• $1000 per vehicle per year or $17,000 over the average life of the vehicle;

• $100 billion in fuel costs to 2050; and

• About $5 billion in reduced health costs given the reduction in air pollution.

Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said, “Australia is a dumping ground for more polluting, less efficient vehicle models that can’t be sold in countries with a fuel efficiency standard, passing on the cost to drivers and the community.

Solar Citizens has welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s proposed modelling for a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard that delivers cost-of-living and health benefits.

The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) requires vehicle manufacturers to meet pollution emissions targets each year. Most countries worldwide already have a standard in place, making Australia a dumping ground for less efficient vehicles that are more expensive to run.

Government analysis found a strong NVES can save:

• About $1000 per vehicle per year or $17,000 over the average life of the vehicle;

• Australian motorists about $100 billion in fuel costs to 2050; 

• About $5 billion in reduced health costs given the reduction in air pollution.

Solar Citizens has today welcomed the announcement of a Federal committee ‘Inquiry into the transition to electric vehicles’ as an opportunity to fast-track the rollout of electric vehicles and make them more affordable for all Australians.

The committee will also explore “opportunities such as fuel savings and affordability for residents in outer regions to make this shift beneficial for everyone”.

Sydney Alliance, a coalition of community organisations, unions, religious organisations and schools, has applauded the announcement that the NSW Government has committed $87.5 million funding for social housing energy upgrades, matching the investment commitment made by the Commonwealth Government, and welcomes $30 million federal funding to support renters to access solar panels or plots for community solar gardens.

The Alliance made energy upgrades to social housing a key part of our election asks going into the NSW election in March last year. Today’s announcement is an important step for all residents in NSW as the government has recognised and acted on the need for more energy efficient homes to reduce the cost of living and provide better standards around climate resilient homes.

For eight years the Sydney Alliance ‘Voices for Power’ campaign has highlighted the need for access to a ‘solar garden’ community energy plot for low-income households, which will be funded as part of the federal government’s commitment to energy upgrades.

Heidi Lee Douglas, Solar Citizens CEO said, "Solar Citizens welcomes the announcement today of a $206 million investment in social housing energy upgrades by the Federal and NSW governments which is a positive step towards reducing the bills for the state’s social housing tenants.

A new analysis released by the Climate Council today has revealed that Australian drivers taking a Summer holiday road trip in an electric vehicle can save up to 79% on the cost of filling up an average petrol car.

The analysis of popular holiday routes reveals:

• battery electric vehicles can save up to $297 on a journey on popular holiday routes from Melbourne and up to $225 with a more fuel-efficient petrol car; 

• battery electric vehicles can save up to $293 on a journey on popular holiday routes from Brisbane and up to $219 with a more fuel-efficient petrol car; and

• battery electric vehicles can save up to $167 on a journey on popular holiday routes from Sydney and up to $131 with a more fuel-efficient petrol car.

Solar Citizens acting CEO Joel Pringle said, “We’re seeing massive fuel cost savings from electric vehicles and in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis that could very well save the Summer road trip for many families.

“Electric vehicles running on sunshine and cheap renewables is a huge cost of living win for Australians, and as electric vehicle prices come down it’ll become the new normal."

Australians installed a record amount of new solar panels on rooftops in the last quarter of 2023, according to new data from SunWiz reported in The Guardian.

A record 921MW of rooftop solar PV was installed in the fourth quarter of 2023, bringing new rooftop solar capacity to about 3.17GW for the year. The 2023 solar installations were second only to the 3.23GW total for 2021.

Australian households are concerned about rising power costs and the new data shows they are investing in rooftop solar and electrification for effective energy bill relief, according to Solar Citizens acting CEO Joel Pringle.

“Australians love solar and they’re embracing rooftop solar in record numbers as the new normal,” he said.

New figures released today by the Clean Energy Regulator reveal Australians support solar in unprecedented numbers with a record 813MW of rooftop solar PV installed in the third quarter of 2023 and the average system size also growing.

The new data shows Australian households are investing in rooftop solar and electrification for effective energy bill relief during the ongoing cost of living crisis, according to Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas.

“Australians love solar and they’re embracing rooftop solar in record numbers,” she said.

“Harnessing the cheap, clean power available from installing solar panels on your rooftop is an effective way of bringing down the cost of living, especially as we head into the warmer Summer months.