Solar panel grant for McCallum

McCALLUM Disability Services in Alfredton will be installing a 40-kilowatt solar PV system thanks to a $49,500 grant from the state government’s Renewable Communities Program.

Juliana Addison, Member for Wendouree, announced the grant last week and said the investment would help substantially reduce power costs and greenhouse gas emissions for the organisation.

“The $49,500 commitment from our government to install solar at McCallum Disability Services will help reduce electricity costs by up to 65 per cent and the money will go back into their employment program which assists local people with a disability find work,” Ms Addison said.

Tyrone McCluskey, McCallum Disability Services CEO, said “This is a little bit cliché to say but by reducing our carbon footprint, our energy bills and being able to reinvest the savings into our employment programs really is a triple bottom line benefit.”

“The reduction in the first year will amount to $10,00, so the money saved will go into refurbishing our plant and equipment and to provide more employment opportunities.”

Solar panels were not on McCallum’s wish list as they could not afford the upfront capital costs.

“Because we are a social enterprise we run a pretty lean business model and those sort of capital enhancements are generally not really available to us,” said Mr McCluskey.

“The government has done a good thing enabling this installation.”