Earth Equity News

Australian Solar Rebate Program Abruptly Cancelled. By Kristin Unerwood, Treehugger.com, October 8, 2009. "What happens when a solar rebate program is announced, and suddenly EVERYONE wants in? Well, the government honors the approved applications and then pulls out of the program, reports The Australian. But who is left to foot the bill? The solar rebate program in Australia provided $8,000 back to homeowners who purchase a system for the home. Originally, the program was established under the Howard government and was very, very popular. So popular, in fact, that the Rudd government continued it, but then when the current Garrett government got into power, they realized that popular or not, it wasn't sustainable. The current government realized that the $271 million allocated to the program wouldn't be nearly enough, so they cut the program earlier this year. Pending applications at that time were still honored (55,000 of the 64,000 in the pipeline at that time were approved), and ultimately the government will owe $440 million. Actually, the taxpayers will end up paying this sum down."