Vic drive to turn waste into energy

Age
Tuesday 12/8/2008 Page: 4

TURNING household waste into energy and $35 million to improve broadband service are key parts of the Victorian Government's $300 million science and technology strategy. The Government will spend $10 million on the Victorian Advanced Resource Recovery Initiative to create two facilities to turn organic waste into clean energy and products such as compost by 2010, helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The strategy, launched by Premier John Brumby yesterday, also includes $145 million to develop research facilities and fund research, as well as $40 million to help businesses commercialise their technology. Mr Brumby said the strategy would focus on biotechnology, which was crucial in generating jobs and investment. Projects such as a solar energy plant in the state's north-west and the national stem cell centre showed that Victorian biotechnology and research was up there with the best in the world, he said.