50,000 People Campaign

Solar by the People

CORENA – Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia Inc.

• 50,000 at People’s Climate March rallies and events across Australia September 21, 2014

How many Australians want climate action?

• 60,000 at National Day of Climate Action rallies and events November 2013

How many Australians want climate action?

• When Climate Commission was scrapped, the Climate Council raised over $1 million in 2 weeks to fund on-going climate education

• 100,821 people signed GetUp’s 2014 Australians for Climate Action petition.

• 750,000 households paid extra on their electricity bills in 2012 to buy GreenPower

How many Australians want climate action?

What being empowered looks like

• The Climate Council circumvented bad government policy.

• A simple transparent donation mechanism enabled ‘the people’ to take power back.

• Citizens were empowered and delighted by collectively achieving what they want.

• And wasn’t it FUN!

What being disempowered looks like

If only...

there were a simple transparent funding mechanism...

enabling Australians who want climate action to

take power back

and achieve tangible climate results themselves!

CORENA’s Big Win Funding ModelCORENA funnels people-power into renewable energy projects – tangible climate results

ALL of your donations go straight to the BIG WIN Projects that you and many others want!

BZE 100% Renewables Plan

According to the stationary energy plan published by Beyond Zero Emissions, Australia could be using 100% renewable energy within 10 years at a cost of $8/household per week.

720,000 x $8/week for 1 year = $300m

• A 50MW solar thermal plant with 3 hours of molten salt storage costs around $300 million.

• If 720,000 people voluntarily chip in $8/week for just ONE year, ‘the people’ can collectively fund a solar thermal plant themselves.

• With a modular approach, Stage 2 would cost about $100m.• Stage 2 would involve construction of a central 50MW power block

and storage, and the first of five 10MW tower+heliostat modules.• When Stage 2 starts operation, electricity sales from it would

provide an income stream to help fund Stages 3-6.

240,000 x $8/week for 1 year = $100m

Central power block surrounded by 10MW modules (power tower + heliostats)

50,000 people x $100 = $5 million

• Around $5 million is enough for Stage 1 of Australia’s first citizen-owned solar thermal plant with storage.

• Stage 1 will include initial planning, approvals, site acquisition, and construction of 0.5MW auxiliary power to provide on-site power during subsequent construction stages.

• We CAN do this with just 50,000 people!

50,000 People Campaign Aims

• Reach 50,000 people who want climate action

• Invite them to be part of funding Australia’s first citizen-owned solar thermal plant

• Raise $5 million over the next few months to fund Stage 1

How you can be part of it

• Be one of the 50,000 yourself and chip in.• Make sure all your climate-concerned friends

know about the 50,000 People Campaign.

50,000 people x $100 (average) = $5million

The ask: $100 or set up small recurring contribution

Have time but short of money? You can achieve just as much, if not more, by spreading the word!

Note: Any amount is fine of course.

Strategies for reaching 50,000 people

• Look for the Campaign Asks page on the CORENA website and:– Print the A4 poster or small flyers

– Follow #50kpeople on Twitter and tweet/retweet

– Like Facebook page and SHARE campaign posts

– Download this presentation and give a talk

– Just tell people about the campaign!

• Ask your local climate-related group to collaborate with CORENA on the campaign

Note: We want to reach 50,000 people quickly so that the funds already contributed can start to be used asap. So far $30,000* has been contributed.

Just imagine seeing this rise from the ground...

and knowing that YOU helped make it happen!

THIS is what empowerment looks like!

http://corenafund.org.au/50000-people/