The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has launched the new edition of Powering Australia, describing the 95-page publication as "an important contribution to the discussion on the pressing challenge of energy security".
Minister Ferguson said 'Powering Australia - solutions for a sustainable future' - produced by the well established industry commentator Keith Orchison - presents a significant contribution to the discussion on Australia's future energy needs and our capacity to meet growth in demand.
"The community's demand for reliable, affordable, clean energy provides significant challenges to governments and investors," Minister Ferguson said. "We therefore need to keep working to ensure we have the market settings designed to deliver the energy infrastructure we need.
"For example the Government's commitment to demonstrating smart networks, coupled with the national smart metering program being pursued through the Ministerial Council on Energy, have the potential to significantly change the way energy suppliers and consumers interact, creating efficiencies and new opportunities for meeting efficiency and security goals.
"Governments also need to remove uncertainty through the smooth introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and working to remove price distortions."
The Australian Government is committed to creating the best possible framework for bringing forward the necessary investment and is giving cleaner fuels the opportunity to be a reliable and affordable part of Australia's energy market.
"To help develop, commercialise and deploy the most promising renewable energy technologies, we have launched the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy. ACRE draws together more than $560 million of renewable energy investment including biofuels, geothermal, wind and electricity storage. ACRE will foster expertise and co-operation within the innovation community to strengthen Australia's renewable energy capacity," he said.
Keith Orchison was managing director of the Electricity Supply Association of Australia from 1991 to 2003. He served on the Federal Government's Critical Infrastructure Advisory Council from 2003 to 2007 and chaired its energy committee.