ARENA solar funding round highlights stupidity of planned government cuts
8 September 2016: Today’s announcement of a new round of funding for solar projects across Australia by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) may be the last such announcement if the Federal Coalition succeed in gutting the agency.
Solar Citizens analysis of the ARENA grants reveals that all of the projects to receive funding are in regional areas and all except for one are in federal electorates held by National or Liberal MPs.
“Today’s funding round again shows how critically important ARENA is, for innovation, for the transformation of our energy system and for the towns, cities and regions across Australia that benefit from the projects they fund,” said Claire O’Rourke, National Director of Solar Citizens.
“The ALP, the Greens and those on the cross benches must stand up to this, yet another, attack on renewable energy in this country, failure to do so will not be forgotten.
“We have looked at a list of the projects announced today, their location and electorate, their value and the Federal MP and whether they intend to vote to scrap ARENA - it makes for interesting reading (see below).
“ARENA is a critical driver of the energy transition that Australia is in the midst of - it is a facilitator of innovation, an engine of cutting edge research and new technology.
“Efforts by the Federal Coalition to gut it and destroy its capabilities are nothing but an ideological attack on Australia’s innovation future.
“To put it simply – it’s stupid. Stupid politics, stupid economics and stupid policy,” she said.
“We can see that the states of NSW and Queensland, seats with many, many marginal seats have benefitted from today’s announcement.
“Every project awarded a grant is in a Coalition held seat except for one project in Bob Katter’s electorate of Kennedy.
“Slashing and burning ARENA will see Australia miss out on its rightful share of the global renewable energy investment boom, in turn missing out on all of the accompanying jobs, growth and investment that are being created across the globe.
“Australia needs a national plan to harness the multi-billion dollar renewables boom and manage the orderly transition to 100% clean renewable power.
“ARENA is a critical element of this. Failure to protect this engine of innovation is a failure to protect our future prosperity,” she said.
“Australians overwhelmingly support renewables - all we need is a decent plan and the political will to get us there.
“We expect the Opposition, Greens and crossbenchers to fiercely oppose and stop the foreshadowed cuts to ARENA, to reflect the will of the Australian public,” said O’Rourke.
|
Project |
State |
MW |
ARENA Funding |
Total Project Budget |
MP - Electorate |
MP intends to vote to gut ARENA? |
|
Darling Downs Solar Farm |
QLD |
106.8 |
$20m |
$216.7m |
David Littleproud (LNP) MP for Maranora |
Yes |
|
Whitsunday Solar Farm |
QLD |
52.8 |
$9.5m |
$122.4m |
George Christensen (LNP) MP for Dawson |
Yes |
|
Parkes Solar Farm |
NSW |
46.0 |
$7.5m |
$107.9m |
Michael McCormack (Nat) MP for Riverina |
Yes |
|
Kidston Solar Project |
QLD |
50.0 |
$8.9m |
$126.2m |
Bob Katter (IND) MP for Kennedy |
? |
|
Manildra Solar Farm |
NSW |
42.5 |
$10.9m |
$109.3m |
Andrew Gee (Nat) MP for Calare |
Yes |
|
Collinsville Solar Power Station |
QLD |
42.0 |
$9.5m |
$95.9m |
Michelle Landry (LNP) MP for Capricornia |
Yes |
|
Griffith Solar Farm |
NSW |
26.4 |
$5m |
$54.6m |
Susan Ley (LP) MP for Farrer |
Yes |
|
Oakey Solar Farm |
QLD |
25.0 |
$2.2m |
$47.5m |
John McVeigh (LNP) MP for Groom |
Yes |
|
Dubbo Solar Farm |
NSW |
24.2 |
$5.5m |
$55.6m |
Mark Coulton (NAT) MP for Parkes |
Yes |
|
Emu Downs Solar Farm |
WA |
20.1 |
$5.5m |
$47.2m |
Melissa Price (LP) MP for Durack |
Yes |
|
White Rock Solar Farm |
NSW |
20.0 |
$6m |
$44.5m |
Barnaby Joyce (Nat) MP for New England |
Yes |
|
Longreach Solar Farm |
QLD |
15.0 |
$1.3m |
$28.7m |
David Littleproud (LNP) MP for Maranora |
Yes |
|
TOTAL |
$91.7m |
$1,056.4m |
11/12 Electorates Coalition |
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Media Contact: Andrew Bradley P: 0403 777 137 E: [email protected]
Solar Citizens is an independent, community-based organisation bringing together millions of solar owners and supporters to grow and protect solar in Australia. Together, we take action to protect the rights of millions of Australians with solar to cut bills, create clean power and take energy generation back into our own hands.
