Local group calls for big solar

A local community group, calling itself Jobs and Food Security, has launched a campaign advocating the construction of big solar power plants within Australia.

It has called upon Member for Robertson Ms Deborah O'Neill to get behind a $10 billion fund for renewable energy and to commit to supporting the building of big solar plants.

"Australia is the sunniest country on earth, so in 2012 it's crazy that we're not leading, or at least following the world," said Jobs and Food Security media officer Ms Karin Solondz.

She said Australia should be "using the sun to provide us with large amounts of safe, clean electricity which will soon be cheaper than coal".

According to Ms Solondz, renewable energy resources are already showing bigger investment per annum worldwide than fossil fuels, and would therefore provide more jobs, environmental security and food security for the future.

"It's time Australia got on the band wagon," she said.

"This is an issue that deserves multi-party support."

The Peninsula community conducted a street poll about the issue in Woy Woy on Saturday, March 17.

The poll will be continued over a period of two months and will deal with issues such as the construction of big solar plants, such as the solar thermal plants in Spain and the USA.

"We know that big solar can bring lots of new jobs and investment to the Central Coast, so it's time to get on with the job," said Ms Solondz.

"Our fossil fuel powered grid is charging us more and more every year for electricity so we need technologies like big solar that can provide affordable power into the future.

"The cost of PV solar has come down 80 per cent in the last 18 months and solar is reaching grid-parity in many parts of the country.

"Solar thermal plants with storage facilities are providing electricity day and night in places like Spain right now.

"Why are people on the Central Coast paying more and more for coal and gas when we could power ourselves with the sun, which is always free?"

Media Release, 9 Mar 2012 Karin Solondz, Jobs and Food Security