Solar Citizens welcomes the eagerly awaited Crisafulli government’s Supercharged Solar for Renters program. Whilst we also welcome their investment in more social and community housing, new homes need to provide energy affordability through energy efficiency requirements and access to home renewable energy resources like rooftop solar and batteries.
However investing $800 million for new fossil fuels projects and coal and gas maintenance over the next year won’t assist the transition to renewable energy.
Solar Citizens CEO Heidi Lee Douglas said:
“We support the Queensland government taking a leading role in providing access to solar power for renters, however we look forward to seeing details of the policy to ensure there are safeguards to ensure the benefits of the Supercharged Solar for Renters program works in favour of rental tenants.
“It is great to see a record investment of $5.6 billion to deliver 53,500 new social and community housing homes - but more details are needed on whether these will be built to be energy efficient with access to solar power and battery storage.
Sadly this Budget is a missed opportunity to deliver a comprehensive Consumer Energy Resources strategy that would bring down household energy bills for all Queenslanders.
Our Yellow Book for Queensland [1], delivered to the Crisafulli government in February also calls for:
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Energy Bill Savings Scheme for households and small businesses: So Queensland’s households can maximise the value of their rooftop solar investment, provide subsidies for installation of household batteries, energy-efficient equipment and appliances.
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Improved access to clean energy in the built environment: 15 recommendations for tailored measures to increase solar and energy efficiency uptake on rental properties, social housing, apartments, commercial and industrial buildings and in all new developments. Encouraging environmentally responsible use of reused or recycled panels.
- Investment in Microgrids to provide energy resilience for regional and remote Queenslanders.
“These initiatives would also provide energy resilience in the face of increasing climate disasters. We heard from Queenslanders with home batteries who were able to keep their lights and vital life-support technology running during Cyclone Alfred.”
“It is puzzling that there is no provision in the Budget to deliver on a key aspect of the vision for Queensland becoming a global ‘Eco destination of Choice’ by 2045 [2] - improved state-wide electric vehicle infrastructure, which Solar Citizens has also called for.
Our Yellow Book for Queensland called upon the Crisafulli government to invest:
- $10 million over four years to help apartment buildings install EV charging infrastructure;
- $50 million over four years to repair, maintain and expand the Electric Super Highway so our regions live up to their envisaged brand as an eco-destination of Choice;
- $10 million in the EV co-funding scheme; and
- Additional co-funding for destination charging facilities in urban areas.
“Solar Citizens is disappointed at the lack of ambition to make clean, affordable energy available to more Queenslanders in the 2025 -2026 Queensland Budget.”
NOTES
[1] Queensland government urged to lead on clean energy plan, 19 Feb 2025
[2] Destination 2045: Queensland’s Tourism Future, s.5.3.5