Plantation sites in the running for solar farm

Canberra Times
Saturday 16/5/2009 Page: 3

A former pine plantation south of Tharwa and another block in the Kowen Forest have been earmarked as possible sites for the ACT Government's 30MW solar farm to be built by 2012. Opening the tender process, Environment Minister Simon Corbell said the two sites were the best options available from the Government's stock of unleased land. Clearing trees from the Kowen site was not an environmental issue as the pines had been planted for harvesting, he said.

"Naming two possible sites does not in any way preclude potential solar energy facility proponents coming forward with other suggestions, but the site must be located within the borders of the ACT," Mr Corbell said. More than 30 companies attended an industry consultation session about the ACT's solar plant in March. The plant is expected to provide power for 10,000 Canberra homes and the Government has pledged $30 million towards the project, although funding was not included in this year's budget.

Mr Corbell said funding was not allocated because it was not known if the money would be a cash payment, a land gift or a combination of the two. But Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury said it was important to secure the money so the project was not delayed. "That's something I'm looking to pursue in estimates, because I've not been able to see where the money's allocated in the budget," he said.

Mr Rattenbury said the project was already a little behind schedule. The ACT Opposition said the Government needed to consult thoroughly with the community before it decided on a site. Mr Corbell said consultation would start this month with letters to community user groups and local residents. Public meetings and site tours are planned next month.

Opposition leader Zed Seselja said energy companies proposing their own sites should also conduct rigorous public consultation and the Government should come clean about exactly what form the facility would take, as the procurement documents showed it could be a hybrid facility. The Government has said it is willing to consider a hybridised power plant with fossil fuels.