Hobart Mercury
Saturday 13/3/2010 Page: 17
THE State Government has promised $3 million for a green loan scheme to help businesses develop renewable energy ideas. Climate Change Minister Lisa Singh said the $3 million would be made available in no-interest loans for Tasmanian companies moving to commercialise new wind, wave, solar and geothermal technologies.
"Tasmania has the strongest knowledge bank in wind and water energy in Southi-East Asia and Labor will make sure that we take the greatest possible advantage of this position," Ms Singh said. 'We know that renewable energy will be one of the cornerstones of our future economy." Labor's announcement coincided with a plan launched by the Liberal Opposition to support the establishment of a biochar plant in Tasmania.
Ms Singh said the business green loan plan was part of Labor's target of generating more than 100% of Tasmania's power needs from renewable sources in the next decade. The minister said the Green Industry Development Scheme would provide an ideal opportunity to demonstrate green technologies and support their early commercialisation in Tasmania.
The loans would be available interest-free for the first three years and be targeted at applicants who could demonstrate an ability to manufacture renewable energy technology in Tasmania. The eligible businesses would need to demonstrate they had long-tern viability and could repay the loan after three years to the government fund. Ms Singh said the scheme would be managed by the Economic Development department.
Liberal environment spokeswoman Vanessa Goodwin used a climate action forum in Hobart on Thursday night to announce that a Hodgman Liberal government would partner with the private sector to build a biochar plant, if the business case "stacked up". Biochar is a method of storing carbon in the soil, and also has agricultural applications including enhancing crop yield. Making biochar produces gas which can be used for power generation.
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