Renewable Energy Target. Enhancing the Renewable Energy Target
Source: Australia. Department of Climate Change and and Energy Efficiency.
"On 26 February 2010, the Government announced changes to be made to the RET scheme to provide greater certainty for households, large-scale renewable energy projects and installers of small-scale renewable energy systems like solar panels and solar water heaters. The Government has released a discussion paper on the new RET design and seeking feedback on the implementation aspects."

New energy efficient standard on way
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release. " Queensland’s sub-tropical and tropical climate will be taken into account when the State adopts a new national code for a 6-star (or equivalent) energy efficiency standard. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said the changes, to take effect for new houses and townhouses and major renovations from 1 May 2010, will be made through an amendment to the Queensland Development Code (QDC) 4.1 – Sustainable buildings."

Boost for renewable energy in regional WA - media release
Source: WA. Minister for Energy
"Two new solar powered stations will be built in regional WA, building on the Liberal-National Government’s commitment to renewable energy supplies. Energy Minister Peter Collier said the stations would be built at Marble Bar and Nullagine at a total cost of $27.7million. This will be funded largely by Horizon Power with a welcome $4.9million injection from the Commonwealth’s Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP). Mr Collier said they would be the world’s first high penetration solar photovoltaic and diesel power stations. The projects will include 2,250 solar panels, with a total of 500 kilowatt solar photovoltaic tracking arrays, and will each operate in conjunction with diesel power stations."

Moratorium to Ensure Smooth Smart Meter Roll-out
Source: Victoria. Minister for Energy & Resources. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government will ensure Victorians are fully aware of new electricity network time-of-use pricing structures associated with smart meters after announcing a moratorium on the scheme. Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor announced the moratorium, which will be effective immediately, after this afternoon's meeting of the Customer Consultation Working Group. “The roll-out of smart meters across Victoria is progressing well, but we are committed to ensuring the transition to a new pricing structure is managed carefully and sensibly,” Mr Batchelor said. “Time-of-use pricing is where customers are charged different rates at different times of the day. This pricing structure will help Victorians control their energy costs but we need to make sure the changes are fully understood across the community before they are introduced.

Garbage-To-Fuel Plan Points Victoria Back to the Future
Source: Victoria. Minister for Industry & Trade. Media Release
"Banana peels, food wrappers, nappies and building waste could one day fuel cars after the Brumby Labor Government cast its support behind a consortium developing the business case for the establishment of a $400 million bio-ethanol plant in Victoria. Industry and Trade Minister Jacinta Allan said the ethanol fuel would be produced from household rubbish and building waste based on special technology developed by consortium partner, Coskata.“Holden, Caltex Australia, Veolia, Mitsui and Coskata have formed a consortium and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Brumby Labor Government to investigate building the plant in Victoria, signalling the state’s potential future as fuel producer, creating jobs and significantly reducing petrol use and carbon emissions,” she said."

Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin
Source: Australia. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
"The health of the Murray-Darling Basin is in decline. Available water is currently over-allocated, and this problem is likely to become worse as water availability declines due to climate change. The Australian Government's Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin Program is an important component of Water for the Future, the Australian Government's $12.9 billion national plan on water. Under Water for the Future the Government has committed $3.1 billion over 10 years to purchase water in the Murray-Darling Basin. The program will complement a range of other measures to achieve sustainable water management in the Basin."

Water in Australia: Water for the Future
Source: Australia. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
"Australia faces major challenges in ensuring sustainable water supply in the face of drying climate and rising demand for water. In response, the Australian Government's framework, Water for the Future, provides national leadership in water reform for all Australians. The Australian Government's Water for the Future priorities will be delivered through a ten-year, $12.9 billion investment in strategic programs, improved water management arrangements, and a renewed commitment to deliver a range of water policy reforms in both rural and urban areas."

$10 MILLION PROGRAM TO SKILL WORKERS FOR CSG-LNG INDUSTRY
Source: Queensland. Premier. Media Release
"Premier Anna Bligh has announced a flagship partnership with industry to develop a $10 million program to train thousands of workers needed for the new Coal Seam Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas industries. Premier Anna Bligh said the program would cater for the up to 18,000 direct and indirect jobs and was part of the Government’s election commitment to create 100,000 new jobs in this term of government. "If Queenslanders are to see the full benefits of the opportunities this new industry will create we need to make sure they can develop the skills they need to harness the boom," she said. The eight proposed CSG-LNG projects under consideration across the state will generate unprecedented demand for workers with specific technical skills.
It’s essential that our training system is geared to meet industry demand – that’s why we’re developing this program hand in hand with industry."

Enhanced Renewable Energy Target Scheme
Source: Australia. Minister for Climate Change and Water & The Hon Greg Combet AM MP. Joint Media Release.
"The Rudd Government’s Renewable Energy Target scheme will be enhanced to provide greater certainty for households, employees and businesses within the renewable energy industry, as we build the low pollution economy of the future. From 1 January 2011 the Renewable Energy Target, which guarantees 20 per cent of Australia’s energy in 2020 will come from renewable sources, will include two parts - the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) and the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET)."

Queensland’s clean wind energy potential mapped
Source: Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade. Media Release
"The Bligh Government has released a map of Queensland’s wind energy potential to help lead clean energy companies to prime development sites in Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said the map will show the international community of clean energy investors that Queensland is well and truly open for business.
“We know Queensland has the natural resources necessary to become a renewable energy leader, and the wind map will provide evidence of this to the world,” he said.
“The Wind Atlas highlights zones of wind speed and strength across the State."
“These zones are represented in colour ranges from blue to red with red being the highest wind farm potential. In particular, the areas around the regions including Atherton to Cooktown through to Cairns are shown to be peculiarly windy, with higher wind renewable energy potential.”

Northern Pipeline (Qld) approved with strict conditions.
Source: Australia. Minister for Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Media release
"The northern pipeline interconnector will be allowed to proceed under national environment law but must meet strict environmental conditions. A departmental delegate has determined that, with the mitigation measures in place and the strict conditions imposed on the project, it will not have unacceptable impacts on nationally protected matters. In light of this limitation, the project will not have a significant impact on matters protected under national environment law."

Queensland bid for smart grid dollars
Source: Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. Media Release
"A Queensland Government consortium has today launched a bid for $100 million in federal funds to build a demonstration smart electricity grid for Australia.
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said Queensland’s demonstration grid would show how promising new technologies could be successfully applied to the Australian lifestyle, climate and geography. He said a sustainable future electricity industry would require better use of renewable energy sources and greater understanding of how we use energy. “The Queensland Smart Communities bid would incorporate renewable energy technologies into the electricity network, along with information technology that will help consumers make better-informed and smarter choices about their energy use,” Mr Robertson said. “New technologies include a solar thermal storage technology pilot, which captures heat from the sun and stores it for future electricity generation. “Another technology to be trialled is the coupling of solar photo-voltaics with applications that will fit them to modern power grids, proving their worth as a reliable source of clean, green energy,” he said."

Wave energy project powers up
Source: Western Australia. Energy, Environment
"Energy Minister Peter Collier and Environment Minister Donna Faragher have announced the next stage in the development of a 5MW demonstration wave power station near Garden Island.
Carnegie Wave Energy Limited today celebrated the installation of a mooring off Garden Island for a prototype CETO (wave energy converter) unit, which coincides with the official launch of the wave energy project.
CETO technology is capable of converting wave energy into zero-emission electricity and also powering the desalination of water.
The State Government has provided $12.5million to the project through the Low Emissions Energy Development fund, which was established to support new, low emissions technology."

SOLAR PANELS ROLLOUT FOR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Source: SA. Premier. Media Release.
"Solar panels will be mandatory for all new and substantially refurbished government buildings from July 1 next year, Premier Mike Rann announced. The Premier said this is another action the government is taking to move South Australia towards even greater uptake of renewable energy. "We have increased South Australia’s target for renewable energy generation to 33% by 2020, higher than the national target," the Premier said."

NEW INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
Source: SA. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Mike Rann announced that the South Australian Government would be providing a
significant new incentive to attract more investment in renewable energy to the State.
“From 1 July 2010, investors in new large-scale renewable energy projects will receive a rebate of payroll tax paid for labour associated with direct, on-site construction of new renewable energy projects,” Premier Rann said."

SECURING THE FUTURE FOR VICTORIA’S TIMBER INDUSTRY
Source: Victoria. Minister for Agriculture. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government released a Timber Industry Strategy which provides a new long-term direction for Victoria’s timber industry with a focus on resource security. Agriculture Minister Joe Helper said the new strategy would help underpin the future viability of the state’s timber industry and establish Victoria as a world leader in sustainable timber industries.“The Brumby Labor Government understands the importance of Victoria’s timber industry to regional and rural communities and that’s why we are taking action to secure its long-term future,” Mr Helper said. Our vision is for a productive, competitive and sustainable timber industry, based on secure and sustainable native and plantation forests."
Timber Industry Strategy

Combating Climate Change
Source: Northern Territory. Chief Minister
“The Environment and Economic Sustainability are core areas of Territory 2030, and the Territory’s climate change policy is a key part of both of these. Underpinning the policy is an aspirational goal of a 60% reduction in carbon emissions on 2007 levels by 2050. This Government also strongly supports a national emissions trading scheme. This means we can drive real change and reduce emissions."

Draft sustainable energy policy released for public comment
Source: ACT. Minister for Energy
"Human-induced global warming is the greatest and most urgent threat confronting humanity. Combating climate change means a drastic reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. In response, the ACT Government has adopted a Territory-wide target of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2060. The draft Sustainable Energy Policy 2010–2020 presents a range of policies that the ACT Government will consider in its move towards zero net emissions. The specific targets in the draft policy will be subject to further review to take into account research that has been commissioned by the ACT Government as well as comments from the public consultation."

MINISTER WELCOMES MORE THAN $11 MILLION IN SOLAR INSTITUTE GRANTS
Source: Australia. Minister for Resources and Energy. Media release
"The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has welcomed the announcement of the first grants under the Australian Solar Institute’s competitive solar energy grants program."
Further information is available at: www.australiansolarinstitute.com.au

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY GETS A $35 MILLION BOOST
Source: Australia. Minister for Resources and Energy. Media release
"The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has announced five geothermal energy projects to receive Australian Government funding of $35 million from round two of the $50 million Geothermal Drilling Program."