9 April 2006 - Applications
for the Australian Government's Low Emissions
Technology Demonstration Fund have closed with
30 major renewable and new low-emission technology
projects applying for funding under the $500 million
programme.
A seven-member expert panel will now begin assessment
of the applications which have the potential for
significant impact on reducing Australia's energy
sector greenhouse gas emissions.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator
Ian Campbell, said the number and size of the
projects was evidence the Australian energy sector,
both traditional and renewable, had risen to the
Government's challenge.
"Industry recognises that the role it will
play in demonstrating new low emission technologies,
to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions
in the coming decades is critical to Australia's
economic prosperity and environmental health,"
he said.
Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said the breadth
of the applications was pleasing with projects
as diverse as biomass energy generation, solar
concentrators, landfill renewable power, clean
coal and carbon sequestration submitted for consideration.
"The range of proposals encompasses both
renewable energy and lower emission fossil fuel
- a strong energy mix that Australia needs to
ensure its energy future. This will be at least
a $1.5 billion investment today for the nation's
energy needs of tomorrow," he said.
The panel assessing applications will be chaired
by Sydney businessman Paul McClintock and includes
John Ralph, Nobby Clark and Ziggy Switkowski as
well as overseas representative Ken Humphreys,
who has extensive experience in the field of advanced
energy technologies.
"These are eminent business people, leaders
in their fields when it comes to leading change
in sectors that are being transformed by new technology,"
the Ministers said.
The applications will be assessed over the coming
months with ministers expecting to make funding
offers early in the new financial year.
For more information about the Low Emissions Technology
Demonstration Fund, visit: www.ausindustry.gov.au
and type the name of the fund into the search
facility
Media Contacts:
Renae Stoikos (Senator Campbell's office) 02 6277
7640 or 0418 568 434
Kirsty Boazman (Mr Macfarlane's office) 6277 7580,
0412 171 444
Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution
Station Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Greenhouse
Gas Monitoring
The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary
with ministerial responsibility for the Australian
Bureau of Meteorology and Mark Baker MP, Federal
Member for Braddon today congratulated the Cape
Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station on thirty
years of operation and leading edge research.
"The Cape Grim station, managed by the Australian
Bureau of Meteorology with a research partnership
with CSIRO, contributes to world leading research
into greenhouse gas trends and impacts,"
Mr Hunt said.
"This thirty year anniversary celebrates
one of the major success stories of Australian
environmental science."
"The Cape Grim program has long been recognised
by the world community as the premier station
in the Southern Hemisphere for greenhouse gas
monitoring and has the longest record in the world
of many of the ozone depleting gases."
"I congratulate all of the scientists who
have been a part of Cape Grim over the last three
decades and I also congratulate Mark Baker MP
for his ongoing commitment to the Cape Grim station
and support for Australian environmental research."
Mr Baker said the Cape Grim station continuously
works with international agencies to contribute
to a global climate change response.
"The Cape Grim program is Australia's contribution
to the United Nations Environment Programme,"
he said.
"Cape Grim also represents Australia in the
Global Atmosphere Watch Programme of the World
Meteorological Organization which focuses on the
effects of atmospheric composition on climate,
the long-range atmospheric transmission and the
deposition of potentially harmful substances,
and the biogeochemical cycles and human impact
on these cycles."
"Today's celebrations will be attended by
scientists from the other 23 Global Atmosphere
Watch stations including China, Indonesia, Malaysia
and South Africa."
"It is a testament to the past and continuing
global importance of the Cape Grim program that
many of the international science community have
travelled here today to witness this historic
occasion."
