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Helene Garrett, Maryanne (President, Cobargo School of Arts), Prue, Kevin Allen (BB Program buyer), Erin (PP), Deborah Summer (Cobargo Co-ordinator). A large number of Cobargo area farming families participated in the program.
Going solarJOSH BARTLETT Bega District News 6/10/09 6/10/2009 9:21:00 AM Bega District News BEGA’S Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) has received a solar panel for its shed courtesy of Pyramid Power. Earlier this year the business held a “Shine On” bulk buy campaign where for every 30 systems purchased, Pyramid Power donated a system to a community building. VRA squad member Rod Roderick said they were lucky to receive the system.
“We are extremely happy to receive this and it just helps that little bit extra,” he said. “We were fortunate enough to receive enough nominations from citizens which was great. The aim for the squad is to reduce the power bill by feeding power back into the grid. I believe that we would be the first unit in NSW to receive one of these solar panels.
“Thanks to Pyramid Power for this and also to members of the community for thinking of us.”  - Andrew Nagle (Pyramid Power, Don Smith (MACCAT), Rachel Choy (Pyramid Power), Matthew Nott (cefe), Prue Kelly (cefe), at the launch of the Berrambool Sports Centre solar panels.
About one thousand households signed up for the bulk buy solar package, a collaboration between Clean Energy For Eternity and several renewable energy providers in SE NSW. Ten per cent of those solar cells have been installed, and the rest will be on roof-tops within the next nine months.
For every thirty households that signed up for the bulk buy deal, the community earned a free 2 kw system that will go onto a local community building. The first community solar panels (as part of the bulk buy deal) were installed on the roof of the Berrambool Sports Complex, which was officially launched on 12/9/09.
Once the NSW feed-in-tariif commences, on 1 January 2010, those 2 KW panels will save the Berrambool Sports Complex about $1800 per year, every year, for the next 30 years. The feed-in-tariff means that households in NSW will be paid 60 cents per KW for energy that they generate from the sun or the wind. The tariff is paid on a net basis, which means that the panels must be generating more electricty than the household is using. That scenario is common during the day, when the sun is shining, and the house may be empty.
There are 29 more community installations across SE NSW that will be put in place over the next nine months. The next community installation will go onto the roof of the Little Yuin primary school, in Bermagui.
Household micro-generation of renewable energy will be a huge boost to our regional economy. Solar panels create lots of jobs, they save households money, and they help to change attitudes.
The recently introduced national Renewable Energy Target, the state feed-in-tariffs, and changes to the Solar Credits Scheme mean that an investment in solar panels makes better than good economic sense.
Matthew Nott
“Congratulations Berrambool Sports Complex on receiving your Pyramid Power ‘Shine On’ Bulk Buy Community solar system. You have contributed to making our Bega Valley Shire the Solar Shire by Caring for Community 50/50 by 2020” says Matthew Nott, Clean Energy For Eternity.
The Berrambool Sports Complex will launch its free Pyramid Power solar system on Saturday 12th September at 2.15pm at Berrambool Sports Complex, Berrambool Drive, Merimbula. This is Sapphire Coast Australian Football League Grand Finals day, and is the biggest day in the Berrambool Sports Complex's year of events with an estimated 3,000 people attending Grand Finals matches. The Merimbula Chamber of Commerce, team leader for the Merimbula Bulk Buy group, is proud to have the Berrambool Sports Complex as the first in a long line of community solar systems to be installed, through the Pyramid Power ‘Shine On’ Solar Bulk Buy offer.
The Launch of the 2kW solar system celebrates the community partnership between Berrambool Sports Complex Management Committee, Merimbula Chamber of Commerce, Clean Energy For Eternity and Pyramid Power Company. The Berrambool Sports Complex was nominated to receive the 2kW solar electricity installation by the local community through the Pyramid Power ‘Shine On’ Community Bulk Buy solar energy offer. The solar system has been installed at no cost to the community group: it has been funded by Pyramid Power Company, with matching funds from the Department of the Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts, made possible by community support of the ‘Shine On’ Bulk Buy offer.
Alan Simpson, President of Berrambool Sports Complex said: “We can now look forward to dramatically reduced energy bills, and greater savings through the new NSW Feed-in-Tariff, which means more funds will be available for our core purpose, local sport. With 12 solar panels on the roof, we are now generating electricity from the sun and feeding energy back to the electricity grid, and earning income from this energy. As electricity costs continue to rise, solar electricity will reduce our utility bills as well as protect the environment.”
The Berrambool Complex services the entire Bega Valley district and provides a quality venue for many sporting and recreational activities for residents, schools, clubs and even the family dog. “It is a pleasure and an honour to be able to support the community who have supported us” said Stephen Garrett, Managing Director of Pyramid Power Company.
Distinguished guests at the launch include: Alan Simpson, President Berrambool Sports Complex Committee; Don Smith, President Merimbula Chamber of Commerce and John Ford, Secretary Merimbula Chamber of Commerce, Team Leader for Merimbula Bulk Buy group; Matthew Nott, Clean Energy For Eternity; Prue Kelly (Bermagui, CEFE); Rachel Choy, General Manager Pyramid Power Company.
The ‘Shine On’ Bulk Buy has been a huge success with over 950 subscribers. Well over 1 megawatt of solar PV will be installed by Pyramid Power in the coming months and many other Community Groups will soon receive their FREE systems.
Special thanks must be extended to John Ford and the Merimbula Chamber of Commerce, Team Leader for Merimbula Bulk Buy group; and also to Clean Energy For Eternity for its vigorous campaign to support ‘Shine On’, especially the charismatic Matthew Nott and the unstoppable Prue Kelly (Bermagui, CEFE). It is also the first time that solar electricity has been within the financial reach of the average family, and with the obvious motivations of domestic action on climate change and rapidly rising energy costs, the ‘Shine On’ project is well timed.
For more information, please contact:
Diana Stewart, Pyramid Power J A Morrison
Ph: 1300 660 553 Email: diana.stewart@pyramidpower.com.au Hon. Sec
The Committee extends a grateful thanks to the wonderful members and other locals who nominated the Murrah as their Community Hall of Choice in the recent Government offer for subsidised solar power units.
Further, the Committee also extends a big, big thank you to the indefatigable Prue Kelly for her efforts in initially getting the ball rolling for the Murrah through her work in Bermigui in bring to our attention and raising awareness of the Govt offer via Pyramid Power and Clean Energy for Eternity. She also consulted, as a point of contact for applicants, providing valuable assistance in the application process. Thanks Prue!
The committee would also like to thank Diana Stewart of Pyramid Power for her support and calm assistance in the liasing and processing of our own application, which, thanks to Derek of Pyramid, also negotiated and received important support from our Council.
Recently, Diana, informed Howard, our Secretary, that the processing of domestic applications was proceeding smoothly, although there is still a wait as the initiative proved to be so immensely popular, our Government brought forward the closing date and stopped offering any more (for the moment). Pyramid still managed to process more than 300 applications on the eve of the deadline.
She went to say that it looks likely the 2Kw solar unit will be installed later this year (maybe even before Member’s Night Sept 12th) and then a bit of a wait until Country Energy connect the unit to the grid. At the moment Pyramid are currently installing units on Community buildings in the southern parts of the shire.
When we are finally connected - we’ll party. And you, our members and supporters, are invited, because, after all, you put it there.
 - One of the first bulk buy solasr panels to be installed in Beauty Point
 - Bermagui Pre-School
 - 15/9/09
Following the immensely successful 'Shine On' bulk buy campaign, and due to popular demand, Pyramid Power is now running a new bulk buy promotion called 'Power On' for Grid Connect Power Systems. This new promotion is based on the Solar Credits rebate. By becoming involved in the 'Power On' campaign, YOU can:
- Drastically reduce energy bills
- Become more sustainable
- Get paid up to 3 times the retail rate for your electricity, with the new NSW Feed-in-Tariff
- Receive quick returns on your investment
'Power On' is open to everyone, including residential, business, schools, and community organisations. Also, extra tax incentives exist for comercial enquiries.
Click here to go to the Power On section on the Pyramid Power website!
The solar panels pictured above are installed by Pyramid Power. The ones below are installed by Energy Options. The photos represent only a few of the many installations that are going on in SE NSW at the moment.
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