<
https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/dont-listen-to-politicians-talk-to-neighbours-slashing-home-energy-bills-takes-a-village/>
"Australia leads the world in rooftop solar, but Greg Bourne believes we can do
even better. With the right policies and smarter technology, households and
businesses could double rooftop solar capacity by 2030—slashing energy bills
and cutting reliance on fossil fuels.
To get there, he told the
SwitchedOn podcast, we need to think beyond
individual households and focus on whole communities.
That’s why Bourne welcomes the recent directive from Energy and Climate Change
Minister Chris Bowen to fund more suburb-wide community electrification
projects.
Greg Bourne, a former BP Australasia head, ex-CEO of WWF, and inaugural chair
of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), has spent decades working
across the energy sector. Now a Climate Council councillor, he sees community
electrification as a crucial step in Australia’s clean energy transition.
Australia is at a turning point, with electrification and smart energy
management set to reshape how communities power their homes. Having worked
across the oil, conservation, and renewable energy sectors, Bourne has a unique
vantage point on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
With the Federal Government backing suburb-wide electrification projects, he
sees a chance to accelerate the transition in a way that directly benefits
households.
Bourne has long advocated for solutions that cut emissions while making energy
more affordable and accessible. Expanding rooftop solar, battery storage, and
smart meters could help double Australia’s solar capacity by 2030—reducing
reliance on coal and gas while lowering household energy bills.
“To do things well, we have to think about community,” Bourne said. “We have to
think from a community point of view.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
