Renewable Energy

Julia Gillard and a Federal Labor government are already taking real action to increase the use of renewable energy and reduce our carbon emissions.

The Australian Government’s Solar Cities program is a partnership between all levels of government, industry, business and local communities to trial sustainable energy solutions.

By changing the way we view and use energy, and gathering valuable data to inform future policies, Solar Cities is creating a new energy future for Australia.

Ballarat and Bendigo, collectively called the Central Victoria Solar City project, is one of Australia’s seven Solar Cities sites.

The Central Victoria Solar City project offers products and services to allow you to generate your own local energy through houshold solar panels and solar hot water systems, as well (if you live locally) to support energy production from a local solar park.

Additionally, the 2010 Budget revealed a new $652 million Renewable Energy Future Fund, which will be part of an expanded $5.1 billion Clean Energy Initiative.

This Fund will leverage private sector investment to support renewable energy projects, and the development and deployment of low-emissions technologies.

It will also be used to enhance Australia’s take-up of energy efficiency schemes and projects, including helping households and businesses reduce their energy consumption.

The Solar Cities program is complemented by a range of other initiatives being developed and implemented at a Federal level, including:

• One of the first acts of the Labor Government in 2007 was to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

• We are supporting green jobs and modernising our economy by investing in clean energy initiatives, including $5.1 billion through the Clean Energy Initiative to support ground-breaking clean coal technologies and investment in the production of renewable energy like solar, wind, geothermal and
  biofuels right here in Australia.

• The National Solar Schools program has provided over $100 million to around 2,500 schools across Australia to tackle climate change by installing solar panels on their roofs and water tanks.

• An expanded Renewable Energy Target will ensure 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity
  will come from renewable energy sources by 2020.

• Implementing the Water for the Future Plan, including the commitment of $3.1 billion towards the purchase of water entitlements by the Federal Government as one important initiative of many to restore the health of the Murray-Darling System.

• Helping secure our urban water supplies by providing funding to help build desalination, water recycling & stormwater harvesting projects in our major cities & towns.

• Helping households move to renewable energy by providing solar hot water rebates to more than 170,000 households and solar PV rebates to more than 100,000 households and community organisations which not only tackles climate change but importantly helps families save on energy costs.

• We have also invested to transform the automotive industry with the roll-out of the Hybrid Camry, the first Australian-built hybrid car.

• Created a user friendly “one-stop-greenshop” website that links families, schools and businesses to all government energy and water efficiency programs at www.livinggreener.gov.au

Click here to access the Fact Sheet on achievements in the Energy and Renewable Energy sectors.