new linc energy, page-7

Not that long - Construction and commissioning of the facility is expected during the third Quarter of 2008. As for funding:

26 February 2007

RUDD UNVEILS $1.5B PLAN FOR CLEAN COAL

The Nine Network

Labor leader Kevin Rudd has proposed a $1.5 billion government/private fund to ensure clean coal is supplied to the national electricity grid by 2020.

The plan would comprise $500 million from the commonwealth, leveraging $1 billion from the private sector, to be up and running within eight years, to support three or four of the most viable clean coal technologies.

The plan would given certainty to the $24 billion annual coal export industry, Mr Rudd told the Nine Network.

"We have an overwhelming national imperative at stake here - how do we place long-term coal exports on a secure long-term footing and the challenges which are emerging in terms of the climate change debate globally, and hostility around the world in terms of carbon emissions going forward,'' Mr Rudd told the Nine Network.

"The way we do it is to bring about a new national clean coal initiative.

"That's what I'm proposing today.

"What I'm proposing further is that we commit real money to this.''

Mr Rudd said the fund would be additional to the coalition government's $500 million Low Emission Technology Demonstration

Fund which is open to all technologies for both coal and renewable energies.

"Mr Howard currently has a $500 million fund where clean coal competes with a whole range of other renewable energy projects,'' he said.

"Based on my advice, up until now, about $135 million of that has been committed to clean coal.

"I'm saying that's not enough.

"Clean coal must be part of the solution. Mr Howard's problem is that for so long he's been a climate change sceptic, how can he therefore put himself to the country as part of a climate change solution for the future.''

In a later statement, Mr Rudd said a Labor government would also increase funding for the CSIRO by $25 million over four years.

"This will strengthen its leadership role in the research and development of clean coal technologies,'' he said.