Solar future looks bright as $1.3b boost gives power to the people

BusinessDay, May 13, 2009

THE Federal Government will try to make the most of Australia's sunny climate by investing $1.3 billion in solar power initiatives.

The measures will be aimed at households and researchers alike as part of a bid to vastly increase the amount of power that comes from an environmentally friendly source.

A new solar flagships program will be created to turn Australia into a world leader in the generation of solar power.

The Government said it would also increase the rebate for people who want to replace electric hot water systems from $1000 to $1600.

The Government has set itself the target of creating an additional 1000 megawatts of solar power - three times the size of the largest solar energy project in operation.

It also hopes householders will do everything they can to increase the energy efficiency of their homes.

Energy efficiency is often referred to as low-hanging fruit by environment groups because it is relatively easy and cheap to achieve and can deliver significant greenhouse gas reductions.

The Government has already announced a program to offer people with little or no ceiling insulation up to $1600 to install the energy-saving batts.

The energy-efficiency drive will also see the introduction of new building codes to make sure new houses are as energy- and water-efficient as possible.

The Government will investigate how to install smart meters in houses and flats. These devices will allow people to see how much energy they are using.

The Government hopes its focus on energy efficiency will create thousands of new jobs, in a similar manner to Barack Obama's green jobs strategy for the US.

"This package will support thousands of jobs for trades people and workers employed in manufacturing, distribution and installation during the global financial crisis," the Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett, said. "The benefits of this energy-efficiency transformation will be felt for many years to come."

As part of the budget, the Government also released the Wilkins review, a report by the former head of the NSW Cabinet Office, Roger Wilkins, on the effectiveness of the Government's energy-efficiency measures. The Herald was repeatedly denied access to the report despite freedom-of-information requests. The report recommended a significant streamlining of existing programs.

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