The WA Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) welcomes the announcement today by Western Australian Environment Minister Donna Faragher and Energy Minister Peter Collier of in-principle funding from the Low Emissions Energy Development (LEED) Fund for 3 new projects across the state.

The WA Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) welcomes the announcement today by Environment Minister Donna Faragher and Energy Minister Peter Collier of in-principle funding from the Low Emissions Energy Development (LEED) Fund for 3 new projects.

The Western Australian Government contribution will provide almost $8 million in three new low-emissions energy projects in Perth, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Karratha and will lead to a total new investment of $38 million in low-emissions technology in Western Australia.

‘The Energy Minister regularly highlights the desire of the community to build renewable energy into Western Australia's future, and business welcomes the Barnett Government's commitment to continue to expand the share of renewable energy in the State,' says WA SEA Chief Executive, Prof Ray Wills.

‘The LEED funding announced by Ministers Faragher and Collier is further evidence of the increasing recognition and support for the need to change to a low-emissions economy,' says Prof Wills.

As Australia's largest energy chamber, WA SEA looks forward to further announcements from the Barnett Government that grows the Western Australian Government's response to climate change and builds a sustainable economy for Australia into the 21st Century.



The Projects
Aurora Algae Pty Ltd will receive $2million towards a project to source CO2 from a major industrial plant in the Karratha region for use as feedstock for algal production, with subsequent production of biodiesel and other algal products.

Green Rock Energy Ltd will receive $5.4million towards its project for the commercial demonstration of direct use of geothermal energy in hot sedimentary aquifers beneath the Perth metropolitan area to replace electricity for building air-conditioning at The University of Western Australia's Crawley campus.

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has been granted $559,000 for a project to install ground source heat pumps, paired with solar photovoltaic panels, to provide renewable energy for pool heating at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Oasis Recreation Centre.

Green Rock Energy and Aurora Algae Pty Ltd are both Members of WA SEA, Australia's largest energy chamber.



WA Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) Media Release - 29 September 2010

Editors notes:
1. Minister's joint media release on LEED funding http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=134056
2. The Funding to Green Rock Energy adds to funding commitments by the Commonwealth Government last week http://www.wasea.com.au/content/view/355/145/.
3. The Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) is a chamber of enterprises has a growing membership of 260 industry members from a diversity of businesses, and the largest state-based industry body of its kind in Australia. www.wasea.com.au.
4. WA SEA bringing you the National Green Vehicle Fleet Day 11 November 2010, and the Energising South East Asia Conference 23-26 March 2011, Perth.