Operation Laser Kiwi: help us take New Zealand-made energy on the road
For a minute there you couldn’t move for political parties pledging the path to a solar future. The Greens, Labour and National have all set out policies to make domestic installation of panels affordable, whether through cheap loans, subsidies, or a mix of both. For Act, the focus is dismantling regulatory hurdles. Across all the initiatives, you can see the fingerprints of Rewiring Aotearoa and its CEO, Mike Casey. For the last three years, the nonprofit charity has been advancing the case for a more electric New Zealand, with an emphasis on rooftop solar, making its arguments using methods ranging from data-heavy documentation to giving politicians a hoon on an electric tractor at Casey’s 100% electric cherry orchard in Central Otago.
Read moreDownload the document herePeople installing solar power systems with batteries on their homes, hoping to avoid the disruption of a power cut, are being told to check with the installer that the battery can provide that protection.
Read moreDownloadKiwis are catching on to the benefits of solar panels - and demand's spiking ... But the industry warns we need about six thousand more trained electricians - across the country - to do the work. Rewiring Aotearoa Chief Executive, Mike Casey told Heather du Plessis-Allan he hopes interest will continue over time. He says oil shortages because of the Iran war is keeping demand high - with energy prices climbing. He says solar is the one reprieve Kiwis get.
Roger Robson-Williams owns 20% of New Zealand's electric tractor fleet. That sounds impressive, until you learn there are only five of them. But, like his fellow electric tractor enthusiast Mike Casey, he's on a mission to change that by providing a bit of inspiration and information.
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