Qld: Candidate points solar panels where the sun don't shine
By Steve Gray24 Feb 2009 3:01 PM
BRISBANE, Feb 24 AAP - A Liberal National Party (LNP) candidate who praised himself for putting in solar panels at his campaign office has installed them facing south - away from the sun.
The six solar panels John Pollard placed on the steeply-raked roof of his office in the Brisbane suburb of Bardon are highly visible to potential voters, but an inefficient way to capture solar energy.
Mr Pollard is standing in the seat of Mount Coot-tha, against Queensland Treasurer Andrew Fraser.
Earlier this month, Mr Pollard announced he had established the first solar-powered political campaign office in Brisbane.
He said he would strongly campaign on the need to boost the use of solar power in Australia.
On Tuesday, he said the north-facing roof would not support the panels. The south-facing panels were operating well, he said.
"I believe it is important Queensland does become the renewable energy capital of Australia, and as the local LNP candidate I thought what better way to show leadership on the issue than by using renewable energy myself," he said.
Environmental issues loom large in the seat of Mount Coot-tha.
Mr Fraser has relied on Greens preferences at the last two elections when the Greens candidates polled more than 20 per cent of the primary vote.
Mr Fraser said the solar panel project was "clearly an example of spin over substance".
He said he wasn't surprised at the mock environmental concern given that Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg was a climate change denier.
Greens candidate Larissa Waters said it was unfortunate the LNP was "more concerned with appearance than actual delivery of renewable energy".
"If they were fitted on the other side of the house they would actually be producing much more solar energy," Ms Waters said.
Murray McNaught, manager of Infinity Solar, which installed the system facing south at Mr Pollard's request, said the panels were generating enough power to run the campaign office, but he could not predict how efficient it would be during winter.
