Australian
11 July 2011, Page: 6
INDIGENOUS communities will receive $40 million to construct wind turbines and install solar panels to help shift to renewable energy. The Gillard government yesterday announced the money on top of household assistance and tax cuts would be provided to help 50 remote communities obtain clean and reliable power supplies.
"Many of these remote communities currently rely on diesel generators for their power supplies", said a statement released by the Prime Minister, Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin and Climate Change Minister Greg Combet. "It will also include training in system maintenance and the provision of energy efficiency information to encourage ongoing emergency management".
A further $22 million will help indigenous Australians participate in the government's carbon farming initiative, with specialists hired to work with communities on getting projects started. This will also include funding for research for carbon farming methodologies which the government claims will create "real and lasting" opportunities for communities.
"Indigenous Australians manage around 20% of Australia's land mass, drawing on traditional knowledge of the land and its responses to fire, flooding and drought", Ms Macklin said. Kimberley Land Council deputy director Nolan Hunter said last week that indigenous people should be urged to take advantage of the opportunities that would come from carbon trading.
0 comments:
Post a Comment