State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan has announced that solar energy will power Caboolture State High sooner, with the fast-tracking of solar installations from the Palaszczuk Government’s $97 million Advancing Clean Energy Schools (ACES) program.
Work at 80 state schools, including Caboolture State High, initially scheduled as part of future stages of the program, has been brought forward to this financial year.
Mr Ryan said that maintaining consistency of work through programs like ACES was crucial to the state’s economic recovery.
“By bringing forward work that had been planned for future stages, we can provide a valuable boost to local economies that is needed now.
“We are maintaining a consistent workload for our delivery partners, in turn supporting the tradespeople that have been working in many of our communities across Queensland.
“Work on the 210 state schools benefiting from the first phase of the ACES program is nearing completion.
“Already we have seen 100 panels installed at Lee Street State Special School and we are now leveraging this success and getting started early on some of the schools initially earmarked for future stages.
“I’m also really pleased that the following local schools are included in phase 2 which will roll-out from July this year:
- Bellmere State School
- Burpengary Meadows State School
- Caboolture State School
- Minimbah State School
- Morayfield State School
- Pumicestone State School
- Tullawong State High School
“And in phase 3 these schools will have solar panels installed from July 2021:
- Caboolture East State School
- Caboolture Special School
- Morayfield East State School
- Morayfield State High School
In total, more than 800 state schools throughout Queensland will benefit from the ACES program.
“The ACES program is expected to deliver a reduction in state school energy costs of up to 20 per cent when fully implemented,” Education Minister Grace Grace said.
“State schools spend more than $70 million each year on their energy bills and I’m pleased that this program is already delivering savings.
Ms Grace said the program was not just important for local jobs and reducing school energy costs, but for Queensland’s clean energy future.
The rollout of the ACES program is estimated to support up to 320 jobs for Queenslanders.
For more information and to see the full list of Phase 2 and 3 schools visit: https://qed.qld.gov.au/programs-initiatives/det/building-education/major-projects-and-initiatives/advancing-clean-energy-schools-program
