The answer is Parkes, the rural NSW town that plays host to Australia’s largest Elvis Festival and is now aiming to become the ‘King of Renewable Energy’.

The Climate Council has today released a major video celebrating Parkes’ progress as a renewable energy powerhouse, against the backdrop of its iconic Parkes Elvis Festival.

Hit hard by the millennium drought, the Parkes community started looking at renewable energy as a solution to climate change more than a decade ago.

The town, a founding member of the Climate Council's Cities Power Partnership, was one of the biggest and earliest adopters of rooftop solar in the country.

Parkes is now well on its way to becoming the ‘King of Renewable Energy’ after just switching on a 55MW solar farm, powering more than 20,000 local homes.

The Climate Council video, filmed during the Elvis Festival, features Parkes Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM – a local solar energy champion, farmer and Elvis impersonator – talking about why it’s “Now or Never” when it comes to taking steps to tackle climate change in regional and rural Australia.

Climate Council Acting CEO Dr Martin Rice said the enthusiasm of the Parkes community for solar power is a great example of the grassroots energy revolution sweeping regional Australia.

“Parkes is already world-famous for its Elvis Festival, but today it’s building a big reputation as a major centre for renewable energy innovation”, he said.

“This video showcases the huge opportunities available for regional and rural Australia around renewable power.

“With large-scale solar and wind projects springing up around the country, we’re in the middle of an energy revolution in our country towns and shires.

“It’s time for a little less conversation and a little more action on renewable energy in this country, and towns like Parkes are showing us the way forward.