Inner West Solar my School program launched at Youth Climate Summit
Thursday, 25 July 2019
Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne has today launched the Inner West Solar my School program at the 2019 Western Sydney Climate Justice Summit.
Solar my School will see Council provide direct brokerage and logistical assistance to Inner West schools to install solar on their buildings with the aim of seeing every local school powered by solar.
The program is an extension of the successful project initiated by Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra Councils and makes use of a State Government grants scheme that offers 50 per cent funding for new solar installations.
The program has been launched following a direct request to Mayor Byrne last year from high schools students from the Sydney Student Leaders’ Coalition seeking help in delivering solar power to local schools.
“These young leaders have a goal of seeing every school in the Inner West powered by solar and we have launched Solar my School to make it happen,” said Mayor Byrne.
“It’s a crying shame that the rooftop space of schools has not been systematically used for solar until now and it has taken the wisdom on youth to help kick our community into gear.
“From today school communities will be able to register for the program and we will help them with raising funds, approval processes and the installation of solar panels.
“With the NSW Government offering 50 per cent of the funds required, it will now be simple and achievable for schools to raise the other half and bring solar energy to their school.
“We want to see solar panels on the rooftop of every school in the Inner West and through this program we can make it happen.
“I strongly encourage all school students in the Inner West take the initiative and propose through their SRC or P&C that their school sign up for Solar my School,” he said.
Solar my School is the latest step in Council’s ambitious leadership on renewable energy including:
- Becoming the first Council in NSW to be 100 per cent divested from fossil fuels.
- On Monday, 1 July, marking a new milestone in Council’s target to reach 100% renewable energy when the contract to purchase power from the Moree Solar Farm commenced.
- Entering a contract to retrofit all residential street lighting with LED.
- A latest solar installation of 15kW solar array on Petersham Town Hall, which combined with an LED upgrade at the site, will save around 15 tonnes of carbon every year, bringing to 30 the number of Council buildings with solar panels.
- Assisting residents and businesses to transition to renewable power through Our Energy Future, Green Living Centre and SunSPoT.
To find out more about Solar My Schools, go to www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/solarmyschool