HELPING MORE SCHOOLS SLASH POWER BILLS WITH SOLAR
Labor is helping government schools save thousands of dollars in electricity costs each year.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas, has announced that Gisborne and Taradale Primary Schools are among 32 schools that will receive solar power systems in the fifth round of the Carroll Labor Government’s Greener Government School Buildings program.
This will bring the total number of government schools fitted with solar systems to 445.
The program is helping Victorian public schools cut electricity costs and reduce their carbon emissions.
It also supports Victoria’s targets of 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035 and net zero emissions by 2045.
Once fully implemented across the 445 participating schools, the program is expected to collectively save schools over $5.2 million in electricity costs each year.
It is expected to achieve a total installed capacity of 19,359 kilowatts – enough to generate renewable electricity to power approximately 2,000 houses – and estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 27,800 tonnes.
The Greener Government School Buildings program removes the upfront costs of installing a solar power system that may otherwise discourage schools from doing so.
The 32 schools, across metropolitan and regional Victoria, are expected to save a combined $480,000 in electricity costs each year and cut carbon emissions by around 2,200 tonnes annually through their new solar systems.
While Labor is helping schools slash power bills, the Liberals and One Nation would put this progress at risk with their $40 billion in cuts to schools, hospitals and kindergartens across the state.
For more information go to schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/greener-government-school-buildings-program.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Gabrielle Williams:
“Schools use significant amounts of electricity each day to support students’ learning – and that’s why we’re investing in powering our schools with clean, cheap, renewable energy.”
“Installing solar power helps reduce electricity bills by thousands of dollars each year, in some cases even by tens of thousands of dollars. These savings can be redirected back into supporting student learning.”
