Just saw a snarky tweet about how electricity prices are set to ‘soar’ in Australia – and that it was because of new solar development. Indeed, when you read the article from the Daily Telegraph, they are going up, by about $7 per year.

What the Telegraph article, and solar critics, won’t mention is that Australia has just about the lowest electricity prices in the developed world – and that a huge percentage goes to resource intensive industries such as uranium extraction AND that most of their electricity is produced by brown and black coal.

In addition, their electricity demand is growing at a rate of 3% per year, a growth that requires new infrastructure and upgrades to that existing.

Perhaps it would help put it in perspective if they thought about the health repercussions and their carbon footprint while they busily dig for coal.

Not that we have the high ground here.

Thanks to Carter for sharing this link with me. Tyler Hamilton at CleanBreak.ca discusses a couple of solar co-ops that are popping up around southern Ontario.

One is Countryside, partnering with ARISE Technologies to start photovoltaic (PV) projects on commercial/industrial rooftops. People who are interested in participating in PV but do not have adequate sites can buy shares in the projects and participate in revenues from the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) feed-in tariff program.

Another, on a much smaller scale is the Neighbourhood Unitarian Universalist (NUU) congregation in Toronto installing a PV system on their church roof. Again, they are selling shares.

I think I’ve already mentioned that I have a wee crush on Cathy MacLellan, one of the partners of ARISE (she started it with her husband after they graduated from Waterloo). She is also the Green Party of Canada candidate for K/W and a totally inspiring entrepreneur.

I also happen to love the UUs, my church of choice and one I would love to see in Aurora and/or Newmarket. Social justice is one of their core principles, just as it is for the Green Party.

As for the province’s feed-in tariff program – the Liberals almost got it right. If they can overcome their issues with back-end red tape it could be a really great program and encourage small-scale renewable energy projects all over the province – including here at home.

Anybody feel like starting an energy co-op in Newmarket? Count me in.