The Queensland Government has announced it has withdrawn financial support for the Cloncurry Solar Farm as part of the state’s ongoing cost cutting.

 

Pulling support from the farm, which is in its early stages, is expected to save the Queensland up to $5.6 million.

 

“These are savings which will benefit all Queenslanders rather than localised climate initiatives,”  State Minister for Energy Mark McArdle said.

 

“Large-scale solar farms are proven technology and it is up to the private sector to decide whether to invest in, build and operate such projects in Queensland.”

 

Mr McArdle said the government had informed Ingenero Pty Ltd, which was named preferred tenderer in December 2011 to design, build and operate the 2.128 megawatt solar farm, and the Cloncurry Shire Council.

 

“The Queensland Government had an option in its contract with Ingenero to cancel the contract at any time for any reason. The government has chosen to exercise this option to save money for Queensland taxpayers.”

 

The farm was set to produce 3,700MW hours of power per year, enough energy to power approximately 500 households upon completion. It would have offset approximately 76,770 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime.