Bipartisan support for community solar battery

BOTH major parties in the seat of Bellarine backed a plan to provide a neighbourhood battery for Queenscliff ahead of theweekend’s state election.

Labor candidate Alison Marchant and Liberal candidate Donnie Grigau each commited to providing the community power infrastructure if elected at Saturday’s ballot.

Neighbourhood batteries are communal facilities that can store excess solar power from residents’ rooftop panels to discharge during peak demand periods.

The community facilities are aimed at maximising efficiency of home solar systems and have been rolled out across the state recently, including at Fitzroy and Yackandandah.

Labor’s rollout was part of a $42 million plan to build 100 community batteries across the state to improve access to renewable energy.

“We’ve tripled our share of renewables, slashed emissions by more than any state and now we’re delivering a Neighbourhood Battery to Queenscliff,” Ms Marchant said.

“As part of the community action group that put an end to fracking in Victoria – I care deeply about protecting our environment and taking real action on climate change.”

Energy, Environment and Climate change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the commitment matched the party’s recently lifted climate targets.

“One hundred batteries in communities across the state will drive down power bills and pave the way for us to reach our world-leading targets – 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2045.”

It comes after Mr Grigau had similarly pledged to work with the Borough of Queencliffe on a community battery for the town.

“If elected, we will roll out the first of many community batteries in Queenscliffe,” he said.

“We are serious about providing more battery and solar infrastructure to our communities and across Victoria.”

Mr Grigau said a Coalition Government would also have provided rebates of up to $1,400 for solar panels and $3,000 for solar batteries.