Canberra Times
Tuesday 14/7/2009 Page: 2
The ACT Government has received 18 international, national and local expressions of interest for a $100 million-plus solar farm. The Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Simon Corbell, said he was delighted by the strong response which vindicated the Government's policies to establish Canberra as the solar capital of Australia.
He said his department would assess the bids and invite short-listed proponents to submit more detailed proposals from which a decision would be made in September. The solar farm could take up as much as 100ha of land and will be required to provide proven technology to deliver at least 30 MWs generating capacity, capable of powering 10,000 homes.
Proponents have nominated possible sites and the Government has consulted on two, at Kowen Forest and Ingledene, a former pine plantation south of Tharwa, while Actew Corporation has suggested land at Williamsdale, south of Canberra. The Greens business and economic development spokeswoman Caroline Le Couteur said the Government had clearly learned its lesson on community consultation from the gas-fired data centre project and started early consultations.
She said a private group was applying for a change of use of land at West Macgregor for a solar farm. The Greens sought an agreement on funding and timing for the solar farm as part of its agreement to allow the ALP to retrain in office. Among proponents is ActewAGL, and while the Government is a shareholder of the utility, Mr Corbell said this would not stop it from choosing the successful bidder.
Mr Corbel] said the Government did not directly control ActewAGL and had strict probity guidelines provided by an independent adviser, the Government Solicitor. Mr Corbel] said the Government's $30 million contribution to the solar faun could be a direct financial grant, land or assistance such as commitment to purchase power.
0 comments:
Post a Comment