Katos visits Surf Coast Secondary for renewables pledge

A COUPLE of state Liberal MPs followed the sun to Surf Coast Secondary College on Friday to make an election commitment for funding for solar panels at the school.

South Barwon MP Andrew Katos was joined by Shadow Minister for Renewables David Southwick at the school, where they made a $50,000 commitment to install a solar PV system and deliver energy efficient lighting solutions to tackle the school’s rising power bills.

The MPs were greeted by a group of Year 9 students who had been studying the school’s energy use and who showed electricity bills that had risen up to 20 per cent a year over the past few years.

Mr Southwick laid the blame for the rising cost of energy at the feet of the Andrews government, saying the rising cost of power was affecting everyone in Victoria, including Surf Coast Secondary College.

“Power bills are going through the roof due to Labor’s ideological energy policies. The Liberals are committed to practical solutions to this.”

Mr Katos said the idea behind solar grants for schools was that as schools operated during the day, they were well placed to make the most of the energy captured by solar panels.

“The Victorian Liberals will get renewables right and schools such as Surf Coast are ideal candidates for solar PV, as they consume most of their power during the day, when the sun is shining and coinciding with grid peak demand.”

During their presentation, the students outlined how they would run an “Energy Challenge” across the school. Over a nominated week they will switch off any unnecessary lights, devices, heating and fans for one hour a day, and track the changes in the school’s energy use.

School principal Scott Diamond welcomed the Liberals’ funding commitment and lauded the students’ project.

“This is a great example of the awareness that our young people have for the world around them. We are so fortunate that we have a generation of young people who are aware and wish to be active proponents of global issues.”