Community poll pressures Abbott on big solar

A new community poll showing overwhelming public support for big solar was presented to Tony Abbott today as legislation for the new Clean Energy Finance Corporation was debated in federal parliament.

25 community representatives, including Canberrans met MPs from all political parties – including key Opposition figures Tony Abbott [photo attached], Joe Hockey and Malcolm Turnbull – to present the results of the poll which show 94% of people support building large scale solar power plants in Australia and 95% support the government’s new $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Climate Action Canberra met with Senator Kate Lundy’s advisor, who will help set up an appointment with Senator Lundy. They will meet with Andrew Leigh in June but are still waiting for appointments with Gary Humphries and Gai Brotmann .

“We want to meet all Canberra’s Federal representatives to present the results of our polling in Tuggeranong, Gungahlin, Dickson, Civic and Woden that show that Canberrans are overwhelmingly in support of building Big Solar projects in Australia. Most Canberrans are also happy for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to give loans to help kick-start these projects. Canberrans also called for our Federal leaders to represent us and champion the building of Big Solar in Australia,” said Rebecca Horridge, Convenor of Climate Action Canberra.

The poll has been conducted over two months and was initiated by 100% Renewable – a community organisation tired of politicians with their eyes only on the polls -and not on the future.

“We know our leaders are fixated with polling so we decided to do our own poll” said 100% Renewable national campaign coordinator Lindsay Soutar. “Over the last 3 months we’ve polled over 12,000 people and what we found is that people are crying out for leadership and vision”

“People are excited about the potential of using our vast solar resources to power our nation. Building big solar projects just makes sense to Australians”.

“Today we are going to Canberra to show Tony Abbott these results and ask why he is not backing the new Clean Energy Finance Corporation in parliament this week.

“This new loan fund will deliver billions of dollars of new investment in solar and other renewable technologies.”

Volunteers from the campaign will met with nearly 50 MPs and advisors, and ask them what they are doing to build big solar in their electorate.

“My neighbours in North Queensland want to know why the largest solar power plant in the sunniest country in the world is a tiny 1.2 megawatts, when China and the US are building 500MW projects. It’s time the government got serious about building big solar,” said Jamie David, community representative from Cairns, who will be meeting with Bob Katter.

“These poll results today show that governments who genuinely support clean, safe renewable energy will win public support,” concluded Ms Soutar.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Rebecca Horridge: Convenor: Climate Action Canberra 0406 375 401
0411 098 853, Lindsay Soutar, National Coordinator
0421 379 646, Andrew Bray, Communications Coordinator

MORE INFORMATION: 12,000 Voices: Australia’s Vision for Big Solar – http://100percent.org.au/sites/default/files/12000VoicesforBigSolar.pdf

Andrew Bray

Communications Coordinator

100% Renewables

m 0421 379 646