The case for energy loans: read our latest explainer
There's money on the table for farmers that embrace solar. And with new announcements from the Government, Farmlands and ASB, there's never been a better time to embrace the sun. Solayer's Becks Smith and Farmlands Flex CEO Andrew Pegler joined Kathryn Ryan on Nine to Noon to talk about the growing interest in rural solar and storage and, as Pegler said: "I don't think it's an early adopter thing anymore. I think farmers are ready. They were just looking for someone to bring a solution that they trusted, somewhere they could ask questions and not feel like they're asking a silly question, so the response has been amazing."
The Energy Minister Simon Watts has launched the Solar on Farms initiative at Fieldays - with plans for tools and data to be made available as well as moves to make financing these products easier. ASB Bank is offering interest free loans up to $150,000 over 5 years. It comes as joint venture company Farmlands Flex adds its launch of a software product that will help connect solar systems to batteries and the grid. Farmlands Flex chief executive is Andrew Pegler and Becks Smith is founder of Solayer - a company installing solar systems on farm.
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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