Australian debate focus on renewables

SYDNEY, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Funding for renewable energy has arisen as a key topic in Australia's political debates.

The Labor government would spend $500 million commercializing renewable energy research as part of its commitment to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. Opposition leader Kevin Rudd attacked Prime Minister John Howard for making no announcements on climate change during his campaign launch, according to reports from local newspapers, including The Age.

"We need to harness our enormous potential in solar, wind, geothermal and wave power. This fund will support projects that take renewable energy technology from the lab to the grid. I am determined to make Australia part of the global climate change solution, not just part of the global climate change problem," Rudd said.

The research fund would get the same amount of money as a similar fund for clean coal technologies announced earlier this year. Although clean coal technologies, such as the burying of greenhouse gas emissions underground, are at least 15 years away from being commercialized, other technologies are closer to commercialization.

Renewable energy companies and researchers have been complaining for years that a lack of funding has forced them to sell their work overseas.