The Solar Promise is a joint initiative set up by the Nelson City Council, the Nelson Environment Centre, along with SolarCity to promote the uptake of solar energy systems in New Zealand.

The idea is that via the Solar Promise web site, businesses and individuals can sign up to have the Solar Promise lobby the Local Government Body to which the business or individual belongs.

Among the organisations, businesses and councils that have already pledged their support are Meridian Energy, Kiwibank, Greenpeace, WWF, The Tindall Foundation, the Master Plumbers of New Zealand, SEANZ, the Wellington and Dunedin City Councils and a bunch of District Councils.

On the face of it, this looks like a really great and well thought-out initiative. But then I noticed that a few of the facts listed on the site didn't add up. More...

On Monday night around 170 people packed out Timaru's Grosvenor Hotel to see a presentation entitled Climate change and opportunities for the economy. The presentation was part of a nation-wide tour that's headed by leading climate scientist Dr Jim Salinger, with support from Professor Caroline Saunders (who specialises in trade and economics) and Rod Oram (business commentator and journalist).

The presenters covered all the usual content with no real surprises, but there was one point that really irked me. When asked about his thoughts on the benefits of solar panels, Dr Salinger offered that the cost of installing solar panels on household rooftops throughout the country would "probably" be offset by the savings made in Transmission costs. This is the type of statement that I've often heard made by lay people, passionate greenies and even politicians. But never a scientist! More...