Hi Biache,I'm thinking of writing a submission to the CEFC...

Hi Biache,

I'm thinking of writing a submission to the CEFC review committee. The thrust of my argument is that the mandate should include the ability to fill the funding gap in a number of different ways - matching the investment method with the technology it suits best.

For example, France and Switzerland have offered drilling insurance to geothermal developers - that could be a good way of helping other geothermal developments in Australia (not really for PTR or GDY). The CEFC must in a position to maximise the phenomena of "institutional learning" - where institutions improve their methods and practices. Given that statutory bodies such as the CEFC of UK Green Investment Bank are newish, they are well positioned to make huge steps forward if they embrace institutional learning.

The Solyndra debacle should demonstrate the uselessness of concessional loans for emerging renewables such as geothermal, solar thermal or those folks over at carnegie. I for one would immediately sell any shares in an emerging renewable company that had debt...

Even the USA is now proposing a CEFC like body, although pigs might fly before they actually enact it.

As for Abbott and his wrecking boys - they are the trolls of the clean energy landscape. Sore losers, determined to ruin Australia's chance at securing first-mover advantages in emerging industries.

The one advantage of a statutory body is that the Coalition will have to pass legislation to have it dismantled completely. Of course, they are capable of starving it of funding, and the CEFC will be completely useless until it is in possession of the funds.

My only hope for ARENA, the CEFC and indeed Australia is that Labour switches to Rudd before the next election, rendering Abbott's 2 and a half year smear campaign against Gillard fairly pointless. That would be funny.

(For all the political hacks, please don't read this as an endorsement of Labor. Anyone with half a brain shudders at the thought of Abbott leading the country, beholden as he is to pseudo-science, religion, and corporate interests)