New Queensland Premier Campbell Newman plans to cut green programs started by the previous government, and one of these programs maybe ending a project that would test whether or not solar thermal energy can provide large-scale alternative power in Australia.

Solar Dawn is a 250 megawatt solar thermal project using sun-heated water in tubes to produce steam-driven energy, and is backed by the federal government and was supported by former Premier Anna Bligh. The Solar Dawn project is set to be one of the largest of its kind in the world.

The new LNP state government wants to pull out of an agreement formed by its predecessor to provide $75 million towards the 1.2 billion Solar Dawn solar research and power plant at Chinchilla.

The Gillard Government has promised $475 million and the Bligh Government agreed in February this year to give $75 million in a ‘‘conditional agreement’’ to help build the huge solar thermal plant, which is scheduled to be operating by December 2015.

Mr Newman said during the state election campaign that he wanted to dismantle Queensland’s carbon reduction schemes to save $270 million for the state budget.

The project must reach ‘‘financial close’’ by June 30 this year.

(Source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/)