EDITORIAL: STATE energy minister Mark Bailey recently announced the milestone our collective solar efforts have achieved.
Queensland is now ‘the solar state’, after new figures confirmed that combined solar rooftops have surpassed the 1680-megawatt Gladstone power station.
As of May 1 there are more than 438,000 residential rooftops with solar connections and 1706 megawatts of solar in this state.
Yet Queensland is lagging way behind the rest of Australia on the uptake of renewable energy in the home.
According to Clean Energy Council 2015 figures, the penetration of renewable energy into Queensland is just 4.4 per cent, sitting below New South Wales (7.7pc) and Victoria and Western Australia (both 12.1pc). Tasmania is way out in front at 99.9pc.
So how can we change that?
Ending the stigma around doing something for the planet would be a good start.
As many international commentators have been saying for years, tackling climate change is not about which political team you’re on, it’s simply about stemming pollution in the water, air and earth.
Having solar panels on your roof doesn’t necessarily make you a ‘greenie’ even though they’re contributing to a reduction in the use of fossil fuels.
Many of us know the cost benefits of having a solar hot water system, yet we might not identify with the worldwide shift to renewable energy as a means of combating climate change.
But if you look at the roofs across our region you’ll see solar is powering many of us already. The Jimboomba Police Station recently installed over 100 solar panels, leading the way for other local organisations and companies to start diversifying where they source their power.
It’s time to start sharing in the growth of renewable energy in Queensland by taking another look at solar. It’s one of the cleanest energy sources going.
