Solar switch for one of Australia's biggest companies funded by community

CLICK HERE TO GO TO SOURCRE

Mum and dad investors are using their savings to fund a half-a-million-dollar solar energy project at the Wesfarmers-owned Blackwoods distribution depot at Canning Vale in Western Australia. 

Blackwood is the country's largest distributor of industrial and safety supplies and its Canning Vale depot will have 630 solar panels installed on its roof in the New Year.

"Wesfarmers is an enormous company but it is also Australia's largest private employer so there is an enormous connection [with the community] already," said Wesfarmers sustainability lead Patrick Heagney. "We have an internal target to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, so this is something we're very proud of." 

The 200-kilowatt system will supply a quarter of the business's electricity needs.

Mr Heagney said it was the biggest single solar installation in the Wesfarmers group, and the first funded by community investors. 

Investors expecting solid returns ....Click here to read more