RENEWABLES: 'Green light for Central Victoria Solar City'

The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
Media release 10 December 2008

A further achievement in Australia’s comprehensive response to combat climate change was realised today with the sealing of Australia’s fifth Solar City agreement, Environment Minister Peter Garrett, said.

Supported by $14.9 million from the Australian Government, the Central Victoria Solar City is a $41 million project jointly driven by Bendigo Bank, Origin Energy, PowerCor, a number of local municipalities and the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and its commercial arm, ZCO2e.

"The agreement is the latest milestone in the Australian Government's $94 million Solar Cities initiative which is integrating solar technologies, energy efficiency and large-scale community engagement to tackle climate change," Mr Garrett said.

"The Central Victoria Solar City covers one fifth of Victoria and involves 14 municipalities, industry, businesses and local communities working together to rethink the way energy is produced and used...

Read the full media release here.