Many of us can claim a strong passion for solar power – in the current circumstances, what reasonable person wouldn't?
With electricity prices rising and climate change practically happening before our eyes, being able to generate your own clean energy with a rooftop solar photovoltaic array is an economic choice as much as it is a moral one.
And it is empowering Australians who have had enough with the games played by the utilities and want to have control of their power.
I think many of us may get a bit sentimental at the thought of sticking it to the man like this.
But local solar power converts might want to ask themselves one question: would you be willing to take your relationship with solar PV to the next level?
And we're not talking about going off-grid – we're talking about marriage. Yep, you read correctly.
Green living website Eco Chunk reports that on Valentine's Day (February 14), television presenter Greg Evans will perform a wedding ceremony between one 'lucky' punter and a 2 kW solar system.
Mr Evans has been working together with solar system manufacturer Energy Matters to get more people to adopt solar panels.
Together, they've been running a competition in recent weeks to find someone deserving of a free 2 kW solar PV system.
"As a new convert to solar, I want other Australians to be as happy as I am so I'm on the lookout to find the person who has been most cheated on by their electricity provider," explained Mr Evans on the Energy Matters website.
The as-yet unannounced winner is being flown to Melbourne today (February 13) and tomorrow will be given the opportunity to "divest themselves of unnecessary relationship baggage" and to wed "their new life partner – solar power".
Mr Evans will be the celebrant.
It's a great bit of publicity for the sort of solar technology which is freeing Australians from the bonds of fossil fuel energy.
With Australian PV installations continuing their rapid expansion last year, the next 12 months look set to welcome more converts to the 'light' side of the force.
Businesses are getting in on the act too. The government announced last week (February 5) that three Sydney manufacturers were receiving a share of more than $2.2 million in grants as part of the Clean Technology Investment Program.
Two of those manufacturers – Tacca Industries and Barron & Rawson – will be using the grants to help fund installation of solar PV systems to reduce emissions and cut energy costs.
Posted by Mike Peacock