March 2014
This past month has seen the BRCT office a hive of activity. The Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman asked to visit the office in late Feb and that was a good opportunity to learn about the Green Party’s energy policy. Attendance at a Wellington conference in early March allowed me to also catch up with and listen to the energy spokespeople of the other political parties.
BRCT has joined with other organisations around the country to call for a “Wise Response” to the risks associated with Climate Change and, thanks to some of our Wellington supporters, our banner will be present when the petition is presented at parliament on the 9th of April.
In April we’ll have a small tent on Bland Park for the A&P show day. That’s an opportunity for us to catch up with you, and you to catch up with us, so feel free to see us there.
April also signals the start of our new financial year and we are getting busier. We are working on recruiting a part-time office manager; Niki’s hours have been expanded as she works on more of our projects; and we now have two newly certified Home Performance Advisors available to deliver a personalised home energy appraisal at a very good price.
BRCT continues to provide free online and phone energy advice, support for community projects and groups, and solar advocacy. Our three main project areas this year are: Blueskin Energy Limited and the development of Blueskin wind; Climate Change Planning currently involving the Blueskin Food System Assessment, a programme which evolved out of the climate change work we did for the DCC last year… but is not funded by the DCC, and; Cosy Homes (‘Every Dunedin home is warm and cosy by 2025’), where we are assisting the programme to get it underway and may look to expand our involvement in the programme if that’s appropriate.
BRCT’s Annual General Meeting is coming up and will be held on the 30th of May this year, with Andy Barratt talking about “Our Food Network”, the local food network for the greater Dunedin region. Put this in your diary and join us.