Government names first 500 schools for NZ$30m solar panel rollout

Ministers Simeon Brown and Erica Stanford have named 500 schools to receive rooftop solar panels under the NZ$30 million Solar in Schools programme funded in this year's Budget. Of the 500, 340 are in the North Island, 157 in the South Island and 3 in the Chathams. Installations roll out over three years, with large schools expected to save around NZ$8,000 a year on electricity. Schools were selected for energy insecurity, higher costs, or boiler replacements.