Page 2152 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
MS GALLAGHER: As a central agency, as you would imagine, Treasury had a great deal of input into the infrastructure plan.
Environment—solar power
MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, I was going to ask a question of the Treasurer but, since she has hopped it, I will not. I will, in fact, ask a question of the only minister that has not had one today, because he is feeling dreadfully left out. My question is to the Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water. The question is: can the minister—
Mr Seselja: A sympathy question.
Mr Hanson: There is no—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, thank you!
MR HARGREAVES: Would you like me to wait until you are finished? You should take your photo and go to the naughty corner. Go to the naughty corner, Mr Hanson. Can the minister advise the Assembly what steps the government is taking to assist community organisations to participate in Canberra becoming the solar capital of Australia?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Hargreaves for the question. I am delighted to advise members that this government is taking significant steps across a range of community organisations to support the deployment of renewable energy technologies in our city. And I would have thought, from a party that has talked a lot about deploying renewable technology, they would actually be interested in the question.
This government has recently announced just under $1 million in grants to community organisations to deploy renewable technologies and other energy efficiency measures on buildings around the city. I am delighted that we have been able to provide to 37 different community organisations grants totalling just under $1 million to deploy solar and energy efficiency measures around the city. The grants have been awarded to a broad range of not-for profit organisations representing the aged, community, family, health, religious, sporting and youth sectors. And, over the course of the year, the clean energy produced by these systems should allow a reduction in the order of 35 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
This is a very important investment, particularly so for not-for-profit organisations who, through this grant, will be able to access the feed-in tariff arrangements and receive payments for the power that they generate. And that is a very welcome boon for those organisations—organisations like Volunteers ACT who, together with carers and a range of other organisations, have teamed together and have received a grant in total of approximately $100,000. That will put in place around 30 kilowatts of renewable energy generation as a result and they will receive regular payments from that energy generation. That regular payment will help offset for them the rental costs and other utility costs that their organisations face.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video