KEY POINTS:
Progress is being made on boosting New Zealanders' uptake of solar energy, Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said.
The Greens brokered an energy efficiency and solar energy initiative as part of their post-election co-operation agreement with Labour.
However, progress on the initiative has been slow and this week a member of the solar energy industry, Solar Power Solutions director Stephen Joll, called on the Government to move quicker.
Ms Fitzsimons, who is the Government spokeswoman on solar power and energy efficiency, said Cabinet approval for the solar programme was expected "very soon".
It will form part of the Government's revised energy efficiency strategy which is expected to be announced in April next year.
Ms Fitzsimons said public meetings were held in September between Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) officials and industry leaders on how to encourage solar energy use.
Issues discussed included raising public awareness, developing industry quality assurance standards and cutting installation costs.
Mr Joll wanted politicians to "end the rhetoric" and come up with some solutions on renewables.
He claimed that the public did not have enough information on solar heating. "Solar water heating is the most cost effective, viable way to get into sustainable energy."
Solar water heating "now will save [people] money and hassle later, but the Government seems determined to keep it a secret."
The Government's previous energy efficiency strategy was dumped in March because it was not achieving its targets.
The new strategy will aim to achieve a 20 per cent improvement in energy efficiency and significantly increase renewable energy supply by 2012.
- NZPA
