The Hon Peter Garrett MP
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
I am very pleased to be here to launch Blacktown Solar City’s first commercial solar power installation here at Cadbury Schweppes, as part of the Australian Government’s Solar Cities program.
I’d like to also acknowledge the Mayor of Blacktown, Councillor Leo Kelly – and of course recognise this is a tough day for residents here in Blacktown who’ve suffered storm damage, and we commend those emergency services workers and volunteers who’ll be on the ground lending a hand.
I’d also like to acknowledge Brooke Miller, Regional Manager, BP Solar and John Christophersen from Cadbury Schweppes.
And it’s a pleasure to welcome today international representatives from Cadbury Schweppes, here to lend support to its Australian efforts.
And to see here today all the members of the Blacktown Solar City Consortium.
Today we’re opening the largest roof mounted commercial solar power system in New South Wales.
This is an exciting milestone for a fantastic project – this is what seriously addressing climate change is all about. The Solar Cities program is a visionary energy concept.
Together we’re combining solar power, energy efficiency and market reform to lay the foundations of a sustainable energy future. Our Solar Cities trials are collecting data to help Australia’s households, industry, energy companies and governments cut our greenhouse gases.
We’re looking at what works – and what Australia can do in the future to build a sustainable energy economy. These trails will help consumers better manage their energy use and save money. They’ll help industry to test sustainable energy options in a low-risk environment. They’ll help electricity companies to better understand the extent of cost savings in servicing peak energy demand periods.
And they’ll help governments to develop future energy and greenhouse policy.