The case for energy loans: read our latest explainer
We know that going electric can help reduce household bills, but the upfront costs are still a big barrier for many. Getting past that requires access to finance and that's now closer than ever.
As Rewiring Aotearoa's Mike Casey explains, Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Hutt City and New Plymouth District have all signed on as shareholding / founding councils for the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, with EECA also chipping in to get the infrastructure set up.
Our policy manifesto ranked low-interest, long-term electrification loans that are tied to properties as the idea that would have the biggest impact on New Zealand's electrification ambitions - and on household bills. That's one part of this scheme, which has required a lot of hard worked from us, Local Government New Zealand and Local Government Funding Agency, so it's great to see so much support for it.
It means that households will be more easily able to do things like install solar, batteries and hot water heat pumps and they can pay the loan back over time or, depending on circumstances, when the property sells.
This is big news and it will unlock a lot of potential. Now it's time to build public momentum for this.
Rewiring Aotearoa is in favour of universal Road User Charges as we believe it will address an artificial market distortion for vehicles that is not in New Zealand’s economic, fuel security, or resilience interests. Here's what we told the Select Committee.
Read moreDownloadThe story of Uruguay's renewable push and why it's relevant here; EVs reach a tipping point in the EU, but they're growing in developing nations, too; Tauranga Crossing and Endless Energy go vertical with a new solar install; new research shows panels keep on trucking far past their warranty periods; and if you need a hand getting out on the waves, how about getting your own electric towing machine.
Read moreDownloadOur Political Power series aims to show that going electric is good for everyone, no matter where you sit on the political sprectrum. Whether you're looking to lower costs, reduce emissions or increase resilience, it increasingly makes sense at an individual, community and country level and ACT's Todd Stephenson, who bought an electric Jeep around one year ago and built his new home in Queenstown to run on electrons, is a good example of that.
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