Perth bid for $75.3m Solar Cities initiative moves closer

Perth's bid to participate in a $75.3 million national Solar Cities initiative designed to make it a more sustainable city has moved a step closer.

The Solar Cities project was announced by the Prime Minister in the 2004 Energy White Paper - Securing Australia's Energy Future, and under the program, at least four cities across Australia will be given funding of up to $15 million each to host solar cities.

The Perth bid is requesting just $13.7million from the Commonwealth, with another $85 million to be provided from consortium members in cash and in kind. It is planned to spend the money over an eight-year period.

The Perth Solar City consortium is led by the State Housing Commission and is a partnership between state, local government and the private sector.

The aim of the program is to embed sustainability within Australian communities and therefore reduce dependence on non-renewable energy.

Housing and Works Minister Michelle Roberts said that if Perth's Solar Cities bid was successful, the Solar Cities project will give Perth the opportunity to showcase Western Australia as leading the nation in energy efficiency.

"Through the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, smart meters and time-of-use pricing, we will be able to demonstrate the economic, environmental and social benefits that can be shared by the whole community," Mrs Roberts said.

"I would particularly highlight the participation of the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council and its six constituent local governments: the Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater, Shire of Kalamunda, City of Swan, Shire of Mundaring and City of Belmont."

Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council chief executive officer Gavin Watters said the Perth Solar City project would spend $21 million in the Perth's Eastern Region over the first two years.

Other Perth Solar Cities consortium members include:
- BP Solar and the Perth firm, Solar Sales, who manufacture and supply the photovoltaic cells;
- financiers ANZ and Euro Microcaps;
- electric meter manufacturers Ampy Email;
- solar hot water manufacturers Solahart;
- building owner and managers Perron Group and Jones Lang LaSalle;
- the Research Institute for Sustainable Energy Monitoring;
- EcoSmart, who are involved in the community engagement and social marketing for the energy wise program; and
- Prospero Productions, who will make a television series about the project.

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Solar Cities bid moves closer.

Perth moved a step closer to becoming a more sustainable city today, following a briefing from Housing and Works Minister Michelle Roberts on Perth's Solar Cities bid.

The Solar Cities project is a $75.3million national initiative announced by the Prime Minister in the 2004 Energy White Paper - Securing Australia's Energy Future.

Under the program, at least four cities across Australia will be given funding of up to
$15million each to host Solar Cities. The aim of the program is to embed sustainability within Australian communities and therefore reduce dependence on non-renewable energy.

The Perth bid is requesting just $13.7million from the Commonwealth, with the rest of the $85million coming from consortium members in cash and in kind. It is planned to spend the money over an eight-year period.

"If we are successful, our Perth Solar Cities project will give us the opportunity to
showcase Western Australia as leading the nation in energy efficiency," Mrs Roberts said.

"Through the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, smart meters and time-of-use pricing, we will be able to demonstrate the economic, environmental and social benefits that can be shared by the whole community."

The Minister said Perth had the most sunshine hours of any capital city, making it ideal for solar technologies.

"Using solar energy to heat water produces no harmful greenhouse gas emissions," she said.

"A solar water heater can provide between 50 and 90 per cent of a household's total hot water requirements."

The Perth Solar City Consortium is led by the State Housing Commission and is a partnership between State, Local Government and the private sector.

"I would particularly highlight the participation of the Eastern Metropolitan Region Council and its six constituent local governments: the Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater, Shire of Kalamunda, City of Swan, Shire of Mundaring and City of Belmont," Mrs Roberts said.

Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council chief executive officer Gavin Watters said the Perth Solar City project would spend $21million in the Perth's Eastern Region over the first two years.

"The benefits are not just financial," Mr Watters said.

"There will also be a range of renewable energy and energy efficiency products and services introduced to the region."

Mrs Roberts said the program would also concentrate on the way people used and managed their consumption of energy.

One key aspect of the program was an interactive voluntary program which worked with more than 6,000 householders and businesses to improve their energy performance.

"Free energy assessments will be provided to householders and businesses to assist them to manage and reduce their energy consumption," the Minister said.

"To help manage demand, new 'smart' electricity meters that measure the power being used and its cost will help people see their energy usage in 'real time'.

"Householders will be able to see information about their electricity consumption and can make informed choices about managing their demand, thereby allowing them to make substantial savings in electricity costs, as well as saving the environment."

Other Perth Solar Cities consortium members include:
- BP Solar and the Perth firm, Solar Sales, who manufacture and supply the photovoltaic cells;
- financiers ANZ and Euro Microcaps;
- electric meter manufacturers Ampy Email;
- solar hot water manufacturers Solahart;
- building owner and managers Perron Group and Jones Lang LaSalle;
- the Research Institute for Sustainable Energy Monitoring;
- EcoSmart, who are involved in the community engagement and social marketing for the energy wise program; and
- Prospero Productions, who will make a television series about the project.