The Australian sugar and bio-energy industries are in for a shake up with the approval yesterday of a processing plant in North Queensland that will produce sugar, ethanol and power and will also be capable of processing timber and crop wastes.
The Gillard Government today revealed the emission limits it might impose through mandatory vehicle CO2 standards applying from 2015, in a discussion paper that asks whether car-makers should be allowed to 'bank' credits if they reach targets ahead of time.
In a development with important lessons on managing relationships with regulators, the Queensland Government won't allow Cougar Energy to restart its underground coal gasification trial, after receiving an independent scientific report that unfavourably contrasts the company's risk management approaches with those of another UCG business.
Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten today released draft legislation that overhauls the tax treatment of alternative fuels and delivers on a commitment made to key Independent Tony Windsor to delay an end to special arrangements for ethanol.