Tuesday 19 May 2009

Sunshine superpower bid

Hobart Mercury
Monday 18/5/2009 Page: 4

THE Federal Government's $1.4 billion investment in large solar energy farms would help make it a leader in solar energy, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said yesterday while visiting the Liddell solar energy-generation station in NSW's Hunter Valley.

In the next six months, tender specifications would be defined, then in the first half of next year the successful tenderers would be chosen, he said. Up to four solar energy plants, with a combined power output of one coal-fired power station, will be built. They will have to be built close to the electricity grid.

Mr Rudd warned that, if the Opposition blocked savings measures in the Budget, projects such as solar farms would be jeopardised. Earlier. Mr Rudd announced that Australia had joined the International Renewable Energy Agency, which now has more than 80 member countries after being established in January this year.

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