ATA - Feed-in Tarriff Campaign

About the ATA: Alternative Technology Association http://www.ata.org.au/ The ATA (Alternative Technology Association) is Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisation, promoting sustainable technology and practice. The ATA provides services to members who are actively walking the talk in their own homes by using good building design, conserving water and using renewable energy. ATA advocates in government and industry arenas for easy access to these technologies as well as continual improvement of the technology, information and products needed to change the way we live. ATA is running a campaign for the establishment of feed-in tarriffs in Victoria. ATA encourages you to write to your local member of parliament, as well as both the major parties, encouraging them to announce policies supporting feed-in tariff as an effective and affordable means of promoting small-scale renewable energy. Draft letters are as well as background information is available at http://www.ata.org.au/feedintariffs/take-action

Carbon offset claims—ACCC issues paper

Carbon offset claims—issues paper Consumer concerns about understanding and verifying carbon offset claims have led the ACCC to consider the Trade Practices Act issues associated with this emerging market. The ACCC has begun consulting broadly with stakeholders from across the industry including consumer groups, accreditation agencies, offset providers and corporate participants in carbon offsets schemes. The issues paper The Trade Practices Act and carbon offset claims provides an opportunity for interested parties to comment upon the preliminary issues identified by the ACCC. Submissions can be made orally or in writing by February 15, 2008. Written submissions should be made as briefly as possible (limited to approximately 10 pages). Submissions can be emailed to carbonclaims@accc.gov.au To make an oral submission please contact Ebony McNally on 02 6243 1176. Discussion Paper: http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/807902

Feed-in Tariff Questionnaire

Photovoltaic Feed-in Questionnaire-Help the ATA take action on feed-in tariffs The new South Australian feed-in tariff is based on net metering, whereby system owners are only credited for any excess fed into the grid after in-home consumption, rather than the entire production of their system. As such, it is very difficult to determine how much electricity a typical home will make from the scheme, without knowing a ‘typical’ (or at least a range of) proportion of electricity being exported after in-home consumption. If you live anywhere in Australia and have a grid-connected photovoltaic system, ATA is interested in your experience. This is a very brief questionnaire (six questions) which will help us determine the effectiveness of net-metering feed-in tariffs, and to assist us with our advocacy work for feed-in tariffs in the future. All you will need to complete the survey is a copy of a typical electricity bill, any additional information you may have on the performance or output of your PV system, and five minutes of your time. If you would like to assist ATA with this questionnaire, please click here http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB227GPBNDGY7

SA Feed-In Tarriff Announced

From the Adelaide Advertiser RESIDENTS will be able to sell excess solar electricity back into the grid after legislation was passed in State Parliament last night. The new solar panel feed-in laws will encourage and reward residents who install solar panels to power their homes. In the original form of the Bill that was introduced by the State Government, the rebate was offered only to consumers for five years, but amendments by Greens MLC Mark Parnell have ensured it will be offered for at least 20 years. "This is going to make a real positive difference to the uptake of solar panels in South Australia," Mr Parnell said. "The 20-year time frame will provide the guaranteed long-term security that the solar industry is after." Opposition energy spokesman Mitch Williams said the Government was forced into supporting the amended Bill. "This week Government Minister Pat Conlon argued that the House of Assembly should not support the Upper House amendments pushed by Mr Parnell and myself," he said. "If this Government was really serious about sustainable energy it would have eagerly supported the amendments to this Bill," Mr Williams said. Source: Adelaide Advertiser http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23216816-2682,00.html

Sign the Solar Feed-in-tariff petition and tell Rudd its got to be gross!

A feed-in tariff is a premium rate paid for electricity produced by a renewable source such as a grid connected rooftop solar system or wind turbine, usually over and above the market rate. 

National gross feed in tariff programs have been established around the world, resulting in increased uptake of solar and wind power systems by home owners and businesses .

We've waited long enough for the Australian Government to act decisively - it's time to push the issue of national gross feed in tariffs; particularly after the recent Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting where principles tabled were far removed from how a feed in tariff system should operate.

Fractured and inadequate state run feed in tariff systems simply aren't good enough. They do not reward system owners suitably and do not recognise the true value that grid connected solar power systems can contribute to stimulating our economy and lowering our greenhouse gas emissions.  Lend your support to a gross feed in tariff program that will actually work and make Australia a leading nation in the uptake of clean, green solar power!

Sign the petition and help Rudd choose a solar future!

Sign the petition below, it only takes a few seconds to do! We'll deliver the results and the accompanying letter below to the relevant Government ministers, representatives and committees - your collective voice will be heard! Once you're done, please let others know about this petition - thanks!

Solar Feed- in Tariff Workshop

Solar Feed- in Tariff Workshop- Wed 12th March A feed-in tariff is a premium paid for electricity fed back into the electricity grid. So, if you have solar panels on your roof that are connected to the electricity grid then you would get paid a premium for the electricity you produce. During the 2006 Victorian State Election, the Victorian State Government made a commitment to introduce a fair price for grid-connected solar PV electricity through the implementation of a feed-in tariff. Join the Moreland Energy Foundation, Alternative Technology Association and Environment Victoria at an information session to discuss the opportunity for Victoria and the benefits of an effective feed-in tariff. Details: 5-7pm, Wednesday 12 March Trades Hall Council Hall, 1st floor, 54 Victoria St. Carlton. RSVP to feedintariffs@ata.org.au More information visit: http://www.mefl.com.au/documents/Feed_in_tariff_forum_-Flyer.pdf