Adapting regions to a low emissions economy

CLIMATE CHAT... Federal

By Deanne Jeffers

BUSINESS leaders and climate experts gathered in Shepparton for a two-day Climate Leadership and Jobs Summit, to discuss opportunities and threats the pertain to the region as the world moves to a lower emissions economy.

“The impacts [of climate change] are really significant for this region as they are for the world,” said Mark Howden, director of the Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University.

“We want to see what are the things that we can do which are really constructive and that feed into regional development.”

Some of the innovative ideas discussed at the conference included the concept of generating energy using waste from local agricultural businesses.

“Waste is actually a fertiliser. So, we have

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY... to become a Greater Shepparton Visitor Centre volunteer has arrived with a call out from the centre inviting locals to step forward in response to significant numbers of new and returning tourists to the region. Photo: Deanne Jeffers almost the potential to have 100 percent renewable outcome from not leaving fruit on the ground,” said Watters Electrical business development manager, Reg Hickey.

He said the company is working with businesses to future proof energy options beyond solar.

“Waste is a fuel source,” said Mr Hickey. “That can be cheap power.”

“It’s more valuable as a fuel source than electricity or gas itself.”

He also commented that while Shepparton has one of the highest uptake rates of rooftop solar globally, there is still significant demand on the grid due to the lack of battery installations.

He said the Federal Government should consider shifting subsidies from encouraging adoption to supporting battery installations, and also suggested that new builds in Greater Shepparton should be penalised for not including solar panels in their build.