Apr 7 2009
The Queensland Bligh Government has commenced its election commitment to provide 200,000 Queensland households with affordable solar hot water systems in a bid to radically cut household energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Premier Anna Bligh said the government was encouraging every Queenslander who wanted to take part in the Scheme to register their interest at the same time of the commencement of the tender process to locate local suppliers and installers.
Ms Bligh said the Queensland Solar Hot Water Program would result in a rollout of 200,000 affordable solar hot water and heat pump systems which will cut the average household’s annual electricity costs by up to $300.
“I made a commitment to this program during the election campaign and I intend to move as quickly as possible,” Ms Bligh said.
“We will start the tender process next week because we have listened to the industry’s concerns and we need to move quickly to eliminate any unintended impacts. We want to ensure as many manufacturers and suppliers as possible are locals so that Queensland business gets the lion’s share of this program.”
Ms Bligh said the government had established a hotline to encourage householders to register their Expressions of Interest in the program.
“Just as we want as many businesses as possible to get involved, we want as many home-owners as possible to sign up.
“About 80 per cent of Queensland households use electric hot water systems and these are the single largest contributor to household energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
“Queensland’s Solar Hot Water Program will offer fully installed, greenhouse efficient hot water systems for $100 to Queensland pensioners and $500 to all other Queensland households.
“This program will help us achieve our Q2 target of reducing Queensland’s carbon footprint by one-third by 2020 - our aim is to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 630,000 tonnes over life of program and 4.9 million tonnes over life of systems.”
Energy Minister Stephen Robertson recently met with industry representatives to discuss the roll out of the scheme.
“We’ve heard the industry’s ideas and concerns and as a result we want to get on with the job immediately,” Mr Robertson said.
Anyone interested in the program should contact the Queensland Solar Hot Water Program Hotline on 1800-243-585 or visit the Office of Clean Energy website at www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au to register interest in participating in the program.