‘We can do better’ on climate

The News is running a series of interviews with community leaders about their views on climate change.

We asked four questions: 1: What is your position on global warming and climate change?

2: Are we doing enough to mitigate the impact of climate change in the region?

3: Do community and business leaders have a role in advocating for more action, and positioning our region to take advantage of emerging opportunities?

4: What is your number one priority to help mitigate the impacts of climate change? Today we feature the responses of Goulburn Valley Community Energy chief executive Geoff Lodge. John Lewis reports:

Geoff Lodge - GV Community Energy CEO.

What is your position?

I accept the science of climate change, as 97 per cent of climate scientists can’t be wrong. I also accept the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

As the CEO of GV Community Energy since 2008, I read daily updates on this topic and combined with my personal exposure to repeated extreme record-breaking weather events and personal testimonies from friends and colleagues, I know climate change is real.

I was first introduced to the science of climate change back in 1984-1987 (also known then as the Greenhouse Effect) when I completed my science degree in horticulture, although back then it was described as a future problem causing harm in maybe 100 to 200 years. The climate, however, is changing much faster than previously thought. It is now urgent that we reduce carbon emissions.

Are we doing enough?

Although there has been a lot of renewable-energy and energy efficiency work completed in recent years, this is not enough to reduce the impacts of harmful climate change. Australia has had a very weak response to reducing its carbon emissions when compared to other countries. Future generations will judge us harshly for not taking decisive action to reduce carbon emissions over the past decade even though there has been an abundance of publicly available information on climate change impacts and solutions.

Australia has the world’s highest installation rate (20 per cent) of domestic rooftop solar PV systems and within our region there are more than 40 solar farms proposed. And yet our national carbon emissions are still rising.

Australia is a significant global carbon polluter and is contributing 1.3 per cent of global carbon emissions, which this makes us the 16th biggest polluter. If Australia’s exported coal is included in our emissions, then our emissions will rise to four per cent and we move to being the sixth biggest global carbon polluter.

In 10 years, as our coal exports increase, our global carbon emissions will rise to around 10 per cent.

We can do better. We must do more.

Do community and business leaders have a role?

Every person that holds a leadership position, whether it be in civic duties, business or politics, is duty-bound to understand how climate change will impact their community, organisation and constituents and to develop, advocate and implement measures to reduce carbon emissions.

Those that do not accept the science of climate change are illinformed, and promoting their views is a disservice to the community — similar to the harm from anti-vaccination campaigners and holocaust deniers.

More public discussion, guidance and leadership on how to reduce carbon emissions is needed.

Regional communities are well placed to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

A low-carbon economy is more resilient than a reliance on carbon-polluting technologies, and the sooner this transition is implemented, the greater financial rewards for our regional economy.

Leaders within the media have an important role to advocate a clear and strong position for urgent reductions in carbon emissions. Over the past 10 years, the media has been conspicuously weak in this area.

This current series of climate change articles in The News is constructive.

It is time for everyone to do their part in reducing carbon emissions.

What is your number one priority?

My number one priority is for GV Community Energy to build our Mooroopna solar farm in partnership with Greater Shepparton City Council, plus we install more domestic and commercial rooftop solar systems.

My top priorities for others include:

● The Federal Government — introduce a national price on carbon to encourage more investment in low-carbon-emitting technologies;

● The Victorian Government — increase support to recycling businesses;

● Local government — all councillors publicly endorse the science of climate change and advocate actions for council to reduce carbon emissions;

● And my final priority is for the news media to publicly advocate for urgent and significant reductions in carbon emissions.

Story from The Shepparton News - “‘We can do better’ on climate”.

First step at Mooroopna in developing our biggest solar farm

This story is from today's
Shepparton News.

The first step to developing what could be the largest solar farm in Victoria, at a site south of Mooroopna, will be considered today.

Greater Shepparton City councillors will today vote to cast the net out for interest in establishing the large solar farm after having received ‘‘significant interest’’.

At the existing council’s penultimate meeting together — this afternoon’s special council meeting — it will consider requesting expressions of interest in leasing GV Link land east of Toolamba Rd and the railway line for construction and use as a solar farm.

A report to the meeting detailed that the council had been in discussions with ‘‘a number of parties’’ interested in leasing land for a ‘‘large scale’’ solar farm just south of Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative and that there had been market interest in a long-term lease of the land.

Council officers propose to test the market interest by calling out for expressions of interest. The chairman of GV Community Energy Kevin Simpson believes the solar farm has the potential to be the state’s largest. Mr Simpson said the group had interest in facilitating construction of a major solar generation facility. Mr Simpson estimated a facility on the site could produce enough energy for ‘‘big users’’.

‘‘We’re talking in megawatts,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s not clear in the end what role we would play in that. We’ll look closely at what they’re offering. I imagine we’d be responding to that expression of interest when it comes available.’’

In relation to development of the GV Link site, the council in 2014 resolved to abandon further investment in development of the site until investment on the bypass was announced or an investor secured.

At the time, the council also resolved to make contact with federal and state governments to advise that it had been unable to meet the requirements of funding agreements to secure an investor and trigger reallocation of the remaining $2.25 million worth of Federal Government funds and $1.5 million worth of state government funds previously allocated to GV Link.

‘‘Recently, council has received significant interest for the lease of the land to the east of Toolamba Rd and the railway line,’’ the report to the meeting read.

It identified an expression of interest process — ‘‘considered to be best practice’’ — to assess market interest in the proposal as a course to best benefit from the development opportunity.

Officers expect a development to strengthen community awareness surrounding sustainable energy, generate a long term stream of income from the lease and generate employment opportunities for local contractors and businesses.

A panel of officers will assess interest submitted against a selection criteria.

GV Community Energy endorses 'good start' on renewable goal

(Today’s Shepparton News reports on a local response to the Victoria Government’s ambitious renewable energy targets in a story headed: “Renewable energy goal ‘good start’)

A local energy sector leader has applauded the Victorian Government’s announcement of ambitious renewable energy targets.

Geoff Lodge (front) talking with
Tatura's Terry Court.

Last week, the government said by 2020, it wanted 25 per cent of electricity generated in the state to come from renewable energy, and 40 per cent by 2025.

GV Community Energy chief executive Geoff Lodge said the news was ‘‘quite a monumental shift for the good’’.

‘‘I’m impressed. Sure, the devil is in the detail but it’s a very good start, a significant leap forward and I’m impressed with their initiative,’’ he said.

‘‘I think this is part of a significant tipping point but the challenge will be making sure these are followed through.

‘‘If you were going to script this, this is how you’d start the story.’’

Mr Lodge said about 14 per cent of the Goulburn Valley’s electricity came from renewable sources.

‘‘We’re certainly well placed for more penetration because of our solar resource,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re not well equipped for wind — only in specific areas — but the sun is very good.’’

Mr Lodge said the announcement was a positive step in working towards a transition to base load energy production from renewable sources.

‘‘There is a recurring criticism that renewable energy cannot provide a base load,’’ he said.

‘‘When you’ve got an integrated grid, the penetration rates increase and it increases the likelihood of being able to have reliable base grade power.

‘‘Today we can’t do it, but we’re not talking today, we’re talking moving forward to 2020, 2030 and 2050.’’

The government said by 2025, it was expected that up to 5400 megawatts of new large-scale renewable energy capacity would be built in Victoria, representing an estimated $2.5 billion of investment in the state.

It said that could create more than 4000 additional jobs in the renewable energy sector during the expected peak year of construction in 2024, and about a 12 per cent reduction in electricity sector greenhouse emissions by 2034-35.

Premier Daniel Andrews also announced an auctions scheme which will see project developers compete to be the lowest cost provider.

‘‘The world is shifting to renewable energy — it creates jobs, drives growth, and protects our environment — and Victorians want to be at the forefront of that,’’ he said

People gather to acknowledge success of Power Down Project

About 45 people gathered in Shepparton recently to celebrate and acknowledge the closing chapter of a two-year project funded by the Australian Government.

Some of those at the recent
GVCE "Celebration Luncheon."

The “Power down project” saw GV Community Energy (GVCE) undertake more than 1000 home energy assessments and conduct seminars involving some 500 people from throughout the Goulburn Valley.

The May 20 “Celebration Luncheon” was held at the St Pauls African House in Shepparton’s Popular Av.

GVCE board member, John Pettigrew, as the keynote speaker, discussed the importance of household energy use in a future in which energy and climate change are inextricably linked.

Guests included the mayor of the City of Greater Shepparton, Dr Diny Adem; the Member for Shepparton, Suzanna Sheed; and the Member for Euroa and deputy leader of the National Party, Steph Ryan.

Guests at the luncheon were entertained by local Congolese singers and, according to GVCE chief executive officer, Geoff Lodge, complimented a productive session “as we collectively move towards a low carbon economy”.

Bright future ahead for solar power: GVCE's Geoff Lodge

(Today’s Shepparton News reports about how ‘Solar power looks set to be an ideal option for residents in the Goulburn Valley during peak times)

GV Community Energy's Geoff
Lodge as pictured in today's
Shepparton News.

A local energy sector leader believes as technology to harness solar power improves, it will present a golden opportunity as a clean, inexpensive energy supplement for the Goulburn Valley during high demand periods.

According to research from Curtin University, rooftop solar panels in Western Australia now produce as much energy as that state’s largest power turbine.

The Goulburn Valley an even better environment and opportunities to utilise solar power, GV Community Energy chief executive Geoff Lodge said.

One in five homes across the grid in Western Australia were found by researchers to have solar panels installed.

Mr Lodge said while the Goulburn Valley was not quite at 20 per cent yet, that trend was similar and the region has all the building blocks it needed to benefit greatly.

“Not only will more people put systems on, they’ll put bigger systems on,” he said.

The main issue with solar energy has up until recently has been storing and harnessing power once the sun sets.

“It’s about storing solar generated electricity,” Mr Lodge said.

He said that at the moment, most residents would install solar photovoltaic batteries for other reasons than to save money as it is currently wasn’t viable.

“From our point of view, there a better investments to reduce you carbon footprint,” he said.

“You can get cheap batteries that won’s last long, but they will wear out before they pay for themselves.”

Over the coming decade however, significant drips in the price of batteries will make PV batteries an increasingly viable option.

Mr Lodge said with the introduction of such batteries, the Goulburn Valley will eventually boast an even higher percentage of the population using solar than in Western Australia.

“I could see the penetration rates going much higher,” he said.

“There’s 20 per cent over in WA, it’s only a short time before we reach that here.

“We’ll be exceeding 25 per cent comfortably.”

Mr Lodge said accessible battery storage was an important part of the puzzle.

He said higher penetration rates of solar power presented better capability to enhance the grid during high demands periods,  boost its reliance and reduce the likelihood of a “brown out”, which can cost industries, and in particular the food and manufacturing sector, a lot of money.

“As people store their own energy, they become more conscious of energy efficiency, and the benefit not only to their hip pocket,” Mr Lodge said.

“We should be looking at ways to reduce our own consumption.

“I’m encouraged by it,” he said.

Discussing tomorrow's energy Beneath the Wisteria

Ideas arising from a recent Community Energy Congress in Canberra will be discussed Beneath the Wisteria in Shepparton on Saturday, June 28.

John Pettigrew and Geoff Lodge, representing GV Community Energy, will report tomorrow on what they heard in Canberra.

They, along with Terry Court will also be discussing and answering questions about the community energy and solar project now being investigated and considered for Tatura.

Saturday’s Beneath the Wisteria starts at 11:00am, lasts for about an hour, is open to anyone keen to know and understand how we power the future without polluting our atmosphere and is free.

The hour-long chat will be held at the northern end of the mall where some public seating is available, but those planning to attend are advised to bring a folding chair.

'Entertaining and thought provoking' March gathering

GV Community Energy CEO. Geoff Lodge.

Saturday’s March gathering Beneath the Wisteria was, in the words of Tatura’s Ross Musolino, “Most entertaining and thought provoking”.

Ross, the fellow behind Tatura Transitions, was one of 15 people who joined Saturday’s conversation about energy.

The March 31 meeting, the fourth since Beneath the Wisteria was established in December 2011, saw an enriching variety of people join the conversation, including the CEO of GVCommunity Energy, Geoff Lodge.

Making the attendance even more impressive were the five apologies tendered, which is remarkable considering the event is wholly informal.

Saturday’s conversation, under the umbrella of a response to climate change, was about energy and its use and Geoff was able to provide many insights into the realities of solar power.

Those at Saturday’s discussion agreed that much was still to be said about energy and its use and so it will again be the topic when the group reassembles on Saturday, March 28. – same place, same time.