RSS Feed
February 7th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Energy Minister Martin Ferguson is resolute reopening a multimillion-dollar solar energy grant process is the right move despite criticism from the Greens and the opposition about the government’s handling of the scheme.
Mr Ferguson announced it had reopened a $306.5 million solar energy grant process amid concern about an investment shortfall at its preferred first-round choice under the Solar Flagships program.
Mr Ferguson said the government would seek updated applications from four shortlisted round-one groups under the scheme.
The consortium behind the Moree Solar Farm had proposed major changes to its project and failed to meet a December deadline to secure financial backing.
BP Solar, Pacific Hydro and Fotowatio Renewable Ventures were behind the Moree project, proposed to design, develop, construct and operate a 150MW solar PV power plant in the NSW tablelands.
Moree Solar Farm and three other shortlisted projects from AGL, Infigen-Suntech and TRUenergy have been asked to submit revised applications to the Solar Flagships Council.
Mr Ferguson said the process would provide the Moree project with an opportunity to demonstrate it was still the most meritorious.
“The government is committed to the deployment of large-scale renewable energy technologies in Australia,” he said in a statement.
“However, we must also ensure that taxpayer money is spent prudently.”
The coalition said the scheme was teetering on the brink of being a full-scale policy disaster.
“The Solar Flagships program is worth $1.5 billion of taxpayers money, but the danger signs are mounting that it is shaping up as yet another Rudd/Gillard government policy debacle, in the mould of the pink batts, home insulation and green loans fiascos,” opposition energy spokesman Ian Macfarlane said.
“There are serious questions outstanding about whether the government breached its own tender guidelines for the Solar Flagships program, by awarding grants before power purchase agreements were in place.”
Greens deputy leader Christine Milne said she would quiz the energy department next week at estimates about the selection process for Solar Flagships and why projects which did not have power purchase agreements in train were selected over projects which did.
“There have been concerns raised about the Solar Flagships program from initial design through to now,” Senator Milne said.
Getting the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) off the ground was now a matter of urgency, Senator Milne said.
Australian Solar Energy Society chief executive John Grimes said the Greens had a valid point about the CEFC because it would be the source of future investment.
“It’s very difficult to get large infrastructure projects funded globally and big solar is no different,” Mr Grimes told AAP.
Iconic projects were needed but had to give taxpayers value, Mr Grimes said.
The reopening of the process gave opportunity for the government to get “more bang for their buck”.
“This means we could see a bigger project or multiple projects – that would be a fantastic outcome,” Mr Grimes said.
Related posts:
Views: 0
Posted in 
Tags: 
