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For Andrew Cranswick, operations manager at Tumu Timbers in Hastings, the calculation was pretty simple: solar costs had dropped by about a third since they last ooked at it, and power prices had gone up by about the same amount.
If something makes financial sense, he says the board will always support it. And, as they were on a fixed price for their electricity, it was clear the energy they could generate on their own roof was the cheapest energy they could get, something more homes, farms and businesses are discovering.
Working with local company Isaacs, they installed a 340kw solar array and the idea is to use as much of it as possible. The company is planning another similar sized install on another roof.
He says payback will be between 5 and 6 years and the savings will keep coming after that.
Political Power has gone local! Dr Nick Smith, mayor of Nelson and ex-National Party minister, is an early adopter when it comes to electric machines but, through his efforts with the council and his close involvement with the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, he's also embracing one of Rewiring's core mantras: once you've electrified your own life, electrify someone else's life, too.
Read moreDownloadWhether it's the growing number of electric buses, new electric trains for the lower North Island and City Rail Link, or new electric ferries, we love seeing more electric transport options in our big cities. It's also good to see some of our smaller cities like Palmerston North, Timaru and Nelson going electric and, as is almost always the case, the drivers reckon it's better on electrons. At the Electrify Nelson expo, we spoke with one driver Lee about the city's electric buses. And he definitely wouldn't go back to diesel.
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