22/07/2005 - The Australian
Government has received an overwhelming response
to its $75 million Solar Cities initiative,
with 21 consortia from across Australia expressing
interest in hosting a solar city.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Ian Campbell, and Minister for Industry,
Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane, said
Solar Cities had captured the national interest.
The programme will revolutionise the way
industry and households use energy through
pricing mechanisms and smart metering.
Senator Campbell said 7 submissions were
received from NSW, 3 from Victoria, 3 from
Queensland, 2 from Western Australia, 5 from
South Australia, and 1 from the Northern Territory.
"The level of interest shown in Solar
Cities highlights that business, industry
and the broader community are ready to explore
new approaches to our energy future,"
Senator Campbell said.
Mr Macfarlane said Solar Cities would help
deliver a future where consumers were rewarded
for using energy more wisely, industry could
test new sustainable energy options in a low-risk
environment, and electricity utilities could
better manage supply and demand.
“It is a pioneering concept that aims to
create more energy sustainable communities,”
Mr Macfarlane said.
Senator Campbell said the Solar Cities selection
process was highly competitive. All proposals
would be subject to rigorous assessment by
a panel with expertise in energy markets and
utilities, finance, science and government
policy-making.
The panel will make recommendations to the
Environment and Industry Ministers, who will
then short-list consortia and invite them
to prepare detailed business cases for Solar
Cities funding.
Decisions on short-listing are expected to
be made in September with an announcement
on the final locations in the first half of
next year.
Solar Cities will be established in Adelaide
and up to three other grid-connected urban
areas around Australia. The initiative is
a major part of the Government’s $1.8 billion
climate change strategy.
