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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

  

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.

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