Antinuclear

The Coalition had flagged a cut to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) when it released its pre-election costings, but at the time refused to detail how big it would be……..

ARENA was set up to fund renewable energy projects and research and had a budget of $3 billion. It drew together funds from existing grant programs and has helped to finance projects such as solar and wave energy.

Along with the $435 million cut, the legislation also enacts a deferral of $370 million announced by Labor in the 2013 budget to the agency, until the next decade.

Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane said the government was committed to the agency and improving the competitiveness of renewable energy in Australia…….

An ARENA spokeswoman said in a statement that the announcement did not affect the agency’s funding for the current year or existing projects.

Australian Conservation Foundation campaigner Tony Mohr said: “The axing of $435 million from ARENA will starve research and development of clean energy in Australia, moving us to the back of the global race for clean tech.”

Australian Solar Council chief John Grimes called on the Parliament to block any attempt to gut the agency.

“The work that ARENA does is an excellent example of direct action,” he said. “This independent agency, with its annual funding prescribed in legislation, back practical programs. This is about real action in the real world.”…….

Along with bills to repeal the carbon tax which were entered into Parliament today, the Abbott government also released legislation to repeal Australia’s $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Opposition climate change spokesman Mark Butler said the $435 million cut had not been flagged in the draft carbon tax repeal bills released in October.

‘‘In fact, Tony Abbott and the Coalition supported the establishment of ARENA, with Ian Macfarlane telling the House in 2011 that, ‘The Coalition believes these bills create a better vehicle for the delivery of renewable energy technology project funding and support,’” Mr Butler said.

‘‘That must have been back when they actually cared about the environment and saw the value in renewables – like the rest of the world does.’’ http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-to-cut-435m-from-renewable-energy-agency-20131113-2xg1g.html#ixzz2kfALtHnf