fyi-----------------Energy agency has renewable fundsA new...

fyi
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Energy agency has
renewable funds
A new agency to manage Government funding for renewable energy such as solar, biomass, biofuels, ocean and geothermal is to be set up by 1 July 2012.
Laws to establish the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) have been introduced into Parliament by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet who said the Agency would channel Government funds to support the development of renewable energy technology.
“Together with the expanded Renewable Energy Target and a price on carbon, ARENA will help drive down the costs of renewable energy and encourage its deployment,” Mr Combet said.
ARENA to support new industries
“ARENA will consolidate and build on the good work undertaken to date by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET), the Australian Solar Institute (ASI) and the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE).”
He said the renewable energy sector as a whole would benefit from the consolidation.
“The legislation will enable establishment of the Board (which will be appointed by the Government according to a skills matrix), and the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer for the independent statutory authority, as well as setting out ARENA’s governance and financial arrangements,” he said.
“DRET will provide ARENA’s administrative and operational support.”
Mr Combet said ARENA would have responsibility for providing financial assistance for the research, development, demonstration, deployment and commercialisation of renewable energy and related technologies; developing skills in the renewable energy industry; and the sharing of non-confidential knowledge and information from the projects it funds.
He said promoting collaboration on renewable energy technology innovation with State and Territory Governments and other institutions, including international Governments and institutions would also be a priority for the Agency.
“Alongside ARENA, the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation will also invest in the commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies,” the Minister said.