NSW Minister for Coal & Pollution

Yesterday (21st March 2012), John Laws of 2SM (Sydney radio) in response to the report regarding Australia having some of the highest Electricity tariffs in the world, invited Chris Hartcher MP (NSW Minister for Resources & Energy) to discuss the report and renewable energy in general. Aside from sounding quite nervous and defensive, most of his answers relating to Solar Power and Feed in Tariffs were at best "Mis-leading" through to complete rubbish. The chat is in the first fifteen minutes of the show and is available here http://www.2sm.com.au/laws.html (audio highlights of 21st march 2012) or will be available on iTunes pod casts. I would like as many people as possible to listen to this "Chat" and get fired up. Chris Hartcher MP can be contacted here:

Terrigal Electorate Office

Terrigal@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Ph:02 4365 1906

Ministerial Office

office@hartcher.minister.nsw.gov.au

Ph:02 9228 3448

Cowboys & The Cavalry

I have recently been given the honour of representing the views of my fellow Solar PV Installers on the newly created Clean Energy Council's Accredited Installer Reference Group. I am always keen to hear the views and concerns of my colleagues so it comes as no great surprise that the overwhelming comments I've heard of late, is that more needs to be done to drive the "cowboys" away from the industry. One of the best ways that this can happen is to initiate a "Pre-commissioning Inspection" of every Solar PV installation by an independent assessor. I believe that this is approach taken in Victoria, so if anyone has any statistics that they think would help, please feel free to share I know that this would drive up the price of a system for the customer, but I think that it would be a small price to pay for piece of mind.

Cheap & Dirty Grid

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/cheap-and-dirty-grid-may-be-our-biggest-liability-78271

I love Giles ability to tell it like it is. For years I have tried to impart my ideas to multiple managers & executives of several energy retailers, most have listened, some have even been interested, none have acted. The same can be said of the plethora of local, state & federal pollies who's ears I have bent over the years. My family, friends & colleagues have a standing joke that I have made a career out of being ignored by politicians. As representative of the truth that it is, this is no reason to give up though.
I noticed that one of the comments left on the RenewEconomy Post recommended that we should provide a free subscription to RenewEconomy to Tony Abbott & friends. I suggest that we each prompt our local MP's (State & Federal), regardless of Party, to subscribe. Keep up the great work Giles.

China News

China now leads the world in #wind capacity at 63GW, more than entire Australian grid! http://t.co/Vo8tgeuR