Herald Sun
Thursday 15/11/2007 Page: 79
AS RENEWABLE energy companies yesterday lapped up the Opposition's $500 million funding boost, the gas industry hit out at politicians who were "neglecting" its sector. A peak gas group called on MPs to make public declarations of support for its sector, saying it was worried that incentives to low-emission technologies, including clean coal research, could freeze out investment in the nation's pipelines. Commenting on the Opposition's announcement yesterday that it would make $500 million available to develop alternative power generation, the Australian Pipeline Industry Association said it was "fed-up with being treated like the poorer cousin" in the energy sector.
"Although privately we are told that we matter, publicly we feel neglected," said APIA chief executive Cheryl Cartwright. "The gas industry does not need taxpayers' money to work within the private sector. But it does need a public indication from people who want to rule this country that we have an important place, otherwise future investment might not happen."
Opposition leader Kevin Rudd said Labor would deploy renewable technology across Australia if it won office. Labor plans a $500 million Renewable Energy Fund and a $240 million Clean Business fund to prepare industry for climate change and promote energy efficient buildings. "We need to harness our enormous potential in wind, solar, geothermal and wave technology to take renewables from the lab to the grid," Mr Rudd said.
The Clean Energy Council said the funding would secure jobs for Australians by encouraging research and development investments. "The industry has proven, mature technologies like wind, gas, solar and biomass that are ready right now to reduce Australia's carbon emissions from electricity," CEC chief executive Dominique La Fontaine said.
The Climate Institute Australia said the announcement more than balanced out the funding allocated to reduce emissions from fossil fuelss. "It will provide much-needed funding for Australian researchers to come up with more solutions to underpin our clean energy economy," institute chief John Connor said.
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