Auswind Members

On Wednesday 8 August 2007, The Australian reported a 'strategic shake-out' of the clean energy industry to produce a single powerful industry voice for the sector.

While the article pre-empted our official announcement, we have indeed taken the first steps on the road to building a strong organisation representing the clean energy industry.

The new peak body, which is yet to be named, is an amalgamation of the Australian Wind Energy Industry Association (Auswind) and the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). It is to be chaired by Paul Anthony of AGL, with myself, Dominique La Fontaine, as the CEO.

Our membership of over 300 businesses covers a quarter of Australia's total electricity production including gas, wind ,hydro and bioenergy; and the spectrum of business in the low-emission energy and energy efficiency sectors including PV solar, solar hot water, biomass, geothermal and cogeneration.

In forming this organisation the clean energy sector is demonstrating its commitment to tackling climate change in Australia.

We maintain that as stationary energy is responsible for 50% of Australia's emissions - with electricity production by far the largest contributor - any responsible remedy to climate change must tackle Australia's electricity mix.

Clean energy technologies, particularly clean energy infrastructure and energy efficiency, are the key to stabilising, and reducing, Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.

Our organisation and our sector has large-scale and domestic technologies to tackle Australia's greenhouse gas problem that are ready right now.

Our policy position will be announced together with our name and will include 4 key pillars that:

• - Encourage ongoing research and development and provide a future stream of deployable technology.
• - Accelerate the deployment of technically proven and commercially ready sustainable energy generation technology.
• - Address the barriers to energy efficiency to unlock its potential to deliver emissions reduction in a cost effective manner.
• - Provide an even playing field for competing technologies by recognising the true cost of carbon to the economy.

In moving forward, I acknowledge the significant work done by both organisations in bringing the industry to this point, and assure you that our previous work will continue while we grow under our powerful, new identity.

To be on the mailing list for the new organisation, please email your electronic signature to media@auswind.org.