Solar Promise
'The Solar Promise' nationwide campaign is encouraging New Zealand councils to consider solar energy options, as their communities face rising electricity costs and continuing oil depletion.
Nelson City Council, Nelson Environment Centre and SolarCity launched The Solar Promise in July, calling for regional councils, as well as central government, individuals and businesses, to do what they can to make solar energy more affordable.
Nelson City Council has resolved to waive solar resource consents to help reduce the cost barriers. "The Solar Saver Scheme has been a huge success for Nelson," says Nelson Mayor Aldo Miccio. "In the scheme's first year, Nelson families put more solar systems on their roofs than the whole of Auckland City, immediately getting up to one week's free power every month."
Nelson City Council's pledge to The Solar Promise is "to continue to waive resource consent fees for solar installation, retain the Solar Saver Scheme, and encourage all councils to consider a number of key policies in their upcoming Long Term Plan".
Other Mayors - from Hastings, Wellington, Marlborough, Tasman, Dunedin, Invercargill and Whanganui - have also pledged their support to The Solar Promise.
The Tindall Foundation has helped fund research around wider adoption of solar energy programmes and would like to encourage all councils to support implementation.
For more information about The Solar Promise, or to make a promise, go to www.solarpromise.org.nz