Powering Communities Program Grant Winners Announced

Hundreds of Australian community groups have scored federal government cash for energy efficiency projects, including solar panel and battery installations.

Community groups often run on the smell of an oily rag – perhaps not the best idiom to use on a solar energy focused web site. Electricity can be a major expense, diverting funds from the important work they perform. Power bills have become an even greater challenge for many during the pandemic as demand for their services increased.

The Powering Communities Program, applications for which opened in March last year and closed in July, set out to provide all 151 Federal electorates with $67,700 each to fund small energy-efficiency related projects. Not-for-profit community organisations were invited to apply by their local MPs, who then with the assistance of a committee representing the local community nominated projects.

Grants of between $5,000 and up to $12,000 were available for projects; with no co-contribution required. Recipients were announced yesterday and around 980 community groups received grants.

“Local jobs will also be supported through the energy-efficiency measures funded by the program, which includes projects like installing solar panels and batteries, replacing lighting with LEDs, and upgrading air conditioners, hot water systems or refrigerators with more efficient models,” said Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor.

Solar Power A Star Attraction

Solar power systems were a very common project to appear in the winners list, with 545 mentions. Battery storage also put in a good showing, with 72 mentions – at times combined with solar panels.

$12,000 can buy a pretty big rooftop solar system capable of shaving thousands of dollars off a group’s electricity bills each year, and for many years. A 10kW solar system costs in the range of $8,000 – $13,000 at the moment, depending on installation location and the type of components used.

These projects are going to generate a significant amount of activity in the short term as they are required to be completed by 30 June 2022.

The full grant winners list can be viewed here.

Harshing The Warm And Fuzzy Buzz

Of course, no Morrison Government announcement of this nature at this point in time would be complete without putting the boot into the Opposition, and Assistant Minister Wilson (unfortunately) didn’t fail to deliver.

“The Morrison Government is focused on empowering community groups, businesses and households to be part of our journey to carbon neutrality,” he said. “Unlike Labor’s tax-first approach, our focus on technology is helping to lower Australia’s emissions, while also reducing electricity bills.”

So, where did the grant money come from? It’s pretty safe to assume taxes were involved to some degree.

That unnecessary comment aside and credit where credit is due, the Powering Communities Program is a great initiative.

Minister Taylor appeared to be in a brighter mood when announcing the winners after his recent episode of wailing, gnashing of teeth and rending of garments over the proposed early exit of Eraring Power Station, a coal-fired emissions-spewing clunker that Origin Energy wants to close in 2025. This is seven years earlier than originally intended and largely due to downwards pressure on wholesale electricity prices from renewables.

Original Source: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/powering-communities-program-mb2371/