John Howard's expected announcement of a carbon emissions trading scheme has been gazumped by the Federal Opposition who last night outlined their own plan.
In a series of statements, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said a federal Labor government would increase the use of green electricity in government buildings and hand $50 million to geothermal companies to develop "hot-rock" technology.
John Howard will today receive a much-anticipated task force report on climate change and is believed to be poised to announce a long-term target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions as early as today.
Mr Rudd said a Labor government would lead by example, using its enormous purchasing power to drive markets for cleaner and greener goods and services.
All commonwealth buildings would be forced to meet the five star mark of the Australian Building Greenhouse Ratings - including Parliament House.
He said Labor would aim to power the House with entirely renewable energy.
"Every year the commonwealth government spends hundreds of millions on energy to power its offices and its operations, generating over a million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions," Mr Rudd said.
Labor's environment spokesman Peter Garrett said the funding for exploration of hot-rock energy would help the burgeoning industry over the hurdle of high costs for drilling rigs in the current mining boom.
Geothermal or hot-rock energy is produced by drilling deep wells into naturally hot rocks, cycling water through those wells to heat the water which then drives a turbine.
"Geothermal energy holds the promise of being a renewable energy source with zero greenhouse gas emissions that can operate 24 hours a day providing critical baseload power for Australian homes and industries," Mr Garrett said.
"The $50 million in funding would be provided as a $1 for $1 subsidy and be capped at $5 million per well. Companies would be eligible for up to two grants."
A Labor government would also offer $50 million to establish The Australian Solar Institute.
"This new institute incorporates the CSIRO's National Solar Energy Centre and will create a global solar energy hub and fast track the development of solar thermal technology in Australia," Mr Garrett said.
"Federal Labor wants Australia to return to its former position as a world leader in solar thermal power demonstration and research by 2010."
Meanwhile, Mr Howard said last night that if a trading scheme was adopted it would include a long-term target.
"If we move towards an emissions trading system, that will as a necessity involve a long-term target of some kind," Mr Howard told a mining industry audience in Canberra.
But Australia could not solve the problem alone, Mr Howard said.
GRK Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
