Howard axes solar research in favour of coal

Tue May 4 11:19:07 EST 2004

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MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 4 May 2004 

Howard axes solar research in favour of coal 

The decision to axe dedicated government funding for solar research
while supporting a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for coal is
outrageous and should be over-turned immediately, Greens Senator Bob
Brown said in Launceston today.

"Fossil fuel CRCs for coal, petroleum and geo-sequestration received $92
million of government funding since 1997 compared with $10 million for
renewable energy, including solar," Senator Brown said.

"Now the application for a Solar CRC has been turned down while the CRC
for so-called Clean Power from Lignite (brown coal) has been given the
go-ahead.

"This is an appalling decision by the Howard government which leaves
Australia to the right even of the United States which at least has a
national renewable energy laboratory which does solar research.

"It follows the closure last year of the CRC for Renewable Energy,
defunded by the Howard government, and the shutting down of the Energy
Research and Development Corporation in 1997.

"The failure to fund rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and water CRCs as
well adds up to an anti-environmental assault.

"Minister McGauran should direct the CRC Committee to review these
decisions immediately and ensure that solar research is generously
funded in Thursday's research and innovation package," Senator Brown
said.

Senator Brown again called for the resignation of the Prime Minister's
chief scientific adviser, Robin Batterham, who is also Chief
Technologist for coal giant Rio Tinto.

(See funding details overleaf.)

More information: Katrina Willis 02 6277 3170 or 0419 704 095

Fossil fuel CRCs - total funding to date $92.1 million
Australian Petroleum CRC	1997-2004	$18.3	
Greenhouse gas technologies, focusing on carbon capture and
geo-sequestration (formerly Australian Petroleum CRC)	2004-2011
	$21.8
$23.4* 	
Coal in sustainable development (formerly CRC for black coal
utilisation)	2001-2008	$14.5	
Clean power from lignite (brown coal)	1999-2006	$14.1	
Clean power from lignite (brown coal)	Application to renew approved

*Additional government funding in August 2003 through Geoscience
Australia, CSIRO and the Australian Greenhouse Office

Renewable energy CRCs - total funding $10.4 million
Australian Centre for Renewable Energy	1997-2004	$10.4	
Solar CRC	Application rejected		

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