MEDIA RELEASE

The Hon Peter Garrett MP

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

PG/345 29 September 2009

TOWNSVILLE SOLAR CITY CELEBRATES ITS SUCCESS

With over 1000 Smart Meters and a range of energy-saving lighting and appliances installed
throughout Magnetic Island, northern Queensland’s Townsville Solar City has a lot to celebrate.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett today joined project leaders Ergon Energy, council
representatives and other guests to mark the first year of the $32 million joint initiative.

Townsville is one of seven cities in the Australian Government’s $94 million Solar Cities program. It
is delivered by a consortium led by Ergon, with Townsville City Council, Honeycomb Property
Group, Delfin Lend Lease and Cafalo Pty Ltd.

The one-year anniversary of operation also coincides with Solar 09, the annual conference of
Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society, which is being hosted by Townsville this week.

Mr Garrett said he was excited to return to Townsville to see the Solar City’s achievements, having
launched the innovative project in September last year.

“When I was here in 2008 I know the community was looking forward to putting energy-saving
ideas into practice, reducing their electricity bills and helping the environment,” Mr Garrett said.

“Anticipation has been turned into reality, with so many achievements in the first year alone – 1445
Smart Meters and around 70 photovoltaic systems generating 160 kilowatts of electricity are in
place, while hundreds of residents and businesses have received free energy assessments.

“Electricity consumption on Magnetic Island – which was rising before the Solar City project began
- is three per cent lower than it was a year ago, or nine per cent lower than where it would have
been without the project.

“Later today the Townsville Solar City team will also be turning the first sod of a 100 kilowatt Solar
Farm, currently in the design and approvals stage. The farm’s output will be equivalent to the
power produced by about 20 homes, saving 177 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year.

“It’s fantastic to see local communities, businesses and all levels of government working in
partnership to come up with smart solutions to our climate challenge.”

One of the aims of the Solar Cities program is to gather information and energy use data about
barriers to solar and energy efficient technology uptake. Mr Garrett said it was encouraging to see
Ergon was already applying the lessons learnt from Townsville to other programs.

“The lessons learned are being used in two Ergon programs: the Energy Savers project, which
focuses on measures for Mount Isa and Northern Mackay residents, and the Isolated Communities
Energy Savings Pilot for remote communities in Cape York, Thursday Island and Horn Island.

“Everyone involved in Townsville Solar City should be congratulated on their hard work,
enthusiasm and ongoing commitment to a cleaner, healthier, low-carbon climate.”

The Solar Cities program was developed by the Australian Government to bring industry, business,
governments and communities together to rethink the way they produce, use and save energy. Our
seven Solar Cities are located in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Blacktown, Central Victoria, Moreland,
Perth and Townsville. Visit http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/solarcities/index.html