$27.7m in climate-ready grants

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, has announced the first round of offers under the Climate Ready program totalling $27.7 million, involving about 400 people working on 32 new green projects.

The funding has been offered to projects that include wind turbine production, native tree plantations to reduce carbon pollution, water-saving solutions and technology for saving power in standby mode.

Grants for this round range from $80,000 to $5 million.

“The strong response to the program demonstrates the willingness of our innovative businesses to embrace the challenge of combating climate change,” Carr said.

“Not only have these 32 innovative projects identified ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but each will help boost the economy in the midst of the global financial crisis.

“Through Climate Ready, innovative companies have an opportunity to create new industries by turning good ideas into commercial reality.

"It is about working in partnership with industry to support our best green ideas and in turn creating high-wage, high-skill jobs," Carr said.

Climate Ready is part of the Rudd government’s Clean Business Australia initiative — a $240 million partnership, over four years, between the government and industry to deliver energy- and water-efficient projects with a focus on productivity and innovation.

Climate Ready offers dollar-for-dollar support with grants from $50,000 to $5 million available to develop innovative solutions to climate change challenges.