They did what? Claire Solar Citizens

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They did what?

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Claire, Solar Citizens

7:39 AM (57 minutes ago)

to me

Dear Neville —

It finally happened, and it’s devastating.

Last night the Australian Senate passed legislation cutting our Renewable Energy Target from 41,000 to 33,000 gigawatt hours – making the deal that cuts jobs, growth and investment law. What’s more, at the eleventh hour the Abbott Government and the cross bench colluded to further weaken the Target, trading the inclusion of burning native forests for a raft of anti-wind power measures*.

You’ve got to pinch yourself to prove this is not a bad dream. While the rest of the world is moving forward, we are fast becoming a laughing stock.

Our Prime Minister has proudly boasted on national radio that his Government was committed to the destruction of renewable energy in Australia**. Now it seems he’s got his wish – at the expense of the hopes and dreams of a nation.

Let’s call this for what it is – a democratic crisis. The great majority of Australians want more renewable energy, not less – poll after poll demonstrates this. Just last week the respected Lowy Institute revealed that 43% of Australians believe solar will be the primary source of energy in just 10 years time, outstripping all other power sources***.

But there’s one thing our politicians aren’t counting on. Our data reveals there are enough solar homes in the top 25 marginal electorates to decide the next Federal election****. And we’ll be going all out to make sure those solar votes count.

We need your help to build a fighting fund so we can win the long game for solar. We have a very generous donor standing by to match your donations dollar for dollar so there’s never been a better time to give. Will you chip in $15, $20, $50, or whatever you can afford, to our end of financial year appeal? All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

For a small community organisation we punch well above our weight with our volunteers and supporters all pitching in, but we couldn’t have saved the small-scale Renewable Energy Target – the part that helps households with the cost of installation – without generous donations from Solar Citizens like you.

That’s why, in solar’s darkest hour, I want to be frank with you. There are more than 5 million Australians living under a solar roof and just 70,000 of those are members of Solar Citizens. Now, 70,000 is nothing to be sniffed at but let’s be real – it’s going to take every single solar owner and supporter in Australia to stand up to the vested interests that want to pull Australia’s solar future back into the dark ages.

Click here to support our end of financial year appeal today and help supercharge our campaign to protect Australia’s solar future. Remember, your tax deductible donation will go twice as far so there’s never been a better time to support Solar Citizens.

Our Stand Up For Solar campaign is already in full swing. Last month we brought together over 1,200 people at launch events across the country; this month Solar Citizens in key electorates are meeting face-to-face with their MPs; and next month we’ll be turning up the heat to ensure the Labor Party commits to ambitious solar and renewable energy policy at their National Conference in Melbourne.

We’ve got all the ingredients ready – volunteer teams across the country ready to mobilise and organise their communities at a moment’s notice, tens of thousands of passionate and engaged supporters and a small team of highly skilled and professional staff. But to really scale up and win for solar we need your support. Click here to donate today.

Yours for an enduring solar future

Claire O’Rourke, National Director

Claire O'Rourke