
Lucy Cooper talks to Justine Prain and Vern Brassel about two free events that are "designed to light a spark for those thinking about electrifying their homes and businesses".
We've loved seeing community groups develop and there are now over 20 of them around the motu, with many more set to start up soon. Wairarapa is one of the regions leading the charge after putting on a two-day conference last year and they're following up on that success by turning it into an ongoing project and running two events.
Word of mouth is a powerful force and the neighbouhood effect is real so the first event will focus on local case studies (including Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey's dad Simon).
“We’ve got a couple of people talking about their own experience of solar and battery, as well as hot water heat pumps,” Vern Brasell said. “And Lindsay Cairns from Masterweave Textiles will talk about why it made sense to go solar for a business.”
The success of this group is a powerful demonstration of the way grassroots action can change perspectives - and how electrification appeals right across the political spectrum.
Book your tickets to the event at https://events.humanitix.com/why-electrify-wairarapa?hxchl=hex-pfl
New South Wales gets the memo about the importance of finance and announces scheme offering zero interest loans to households to upgrade to electric stuff; plug-in solar gets the tick of approval to go on sale in the UK soon and the New York Times says it could 'change America'; EVolocity takes electrification to the streets to gets the kids inspired (and eventually employed); a tour of the amazing recycling business Redwood Materials; Think Solar and BYD give it away now; and a skit that cuts close to the bone for many solar dads.
Read moreDownloadAdvances in technology and falling costs mean customer-owned solar and batteries can play a critical role in New Zealand’s energy infrastructure - improving affordability, resilience and sustainability. Multiple trading relationships (MTR) and peer-to-peer trading would enable this potential by increasing competition, customer choice, and innovation in the electricity market, unlocking greater consumer benefits from customer solar and batteries.
Read moreDownload