First published in The New Daily, 12 August 2022.

Australian motorists can access incredible savings by switching to electric vehicles, but there’s still some huge hurdles standing between households and lower fuel bills, new research finds.

Electricity price hikes and the threat of blackouts have been consistently making media headlines – but understandably many consumers have no idea what’s gone wrong. There’s a lot to unpack about what’s happening in our electricity system and what governments can do about it.

In the lead up to the 2022 Federal Election, thousands of solar citizens across the country took action, calling on all sides of politics to back more ambitious renewable energy and clean transport policies. Together, we helped deliver a momentous shift for the nation. 

Across our sunburnt country, a growing number of solar and wind farms are pumping out clean and affordable energy. Australia’s three million solar homes and businesses now make up the country’s largest power station, and now more Australians than ever are looking to make the switch to cleaner electric transport, too. 

At the same time, Australia is well-placed to capitalise on emerging opportunities to export renewable hydrogen and ‘green’ commodities, such as steel and aluminium, as the world moves towards a low-carbon future, far from being a choice between credible climate action and thriving regional employment, Australia can have the best of both worlds by utilising cheap solar and wind energy to expand onshore manufacturing and minerals processing. 

The next Federal Government must urgently act to capitalise on these opportunities to accelerate the transition to cheap renewable energy, new clean industries, and affordable electric transport. 

I was furious when I read the headlines that the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is going to let homes with solar panels be charged for feeding excess energy into the grid. 

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) yesterday talked up new consumer protections in their final determination allowing rooftop solar owners to be charged for exporting. But what do these consumer protections really amount to? 

North Queensland has all the right ingredients to power up new manufacturing industries with abundant and cheap renewable energy.

There are already several manufacturing and minerals processing projects proposed in Townsville that would create 11,000 jobs if they proceed and are powered by new solar, wind and storage plants.

Yesterday marked the beginning of 2021’s NAIDOC Week (4-11 July). Every year NAIDOC Week is a time where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ history, culture and achievements are celebrated in events across the country.

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is proposing to change the rules that govern our energy system in a move that would see solar households charged for exporting their clean power to the grid. 

There are several concerning aspects to the AEMC’s Draft Rule Determination. In this blog we explore why Solar Citizens does not support charging solar homes and businesses for exporting excess solar energy.

Recent news headlines have shown the destructive potential of mining project operations on Aboriginal land and cultural heritage sites [1]. Renewable projects, like large scale solar and wind farms, are however not exempt from also potentially causing harm to Aboriginal land, and disregarding First Nations cultural heritage and ongoing connection to country.