PRESS RELEASE
North Queensland-based economist Tracey Lines has joined the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to help accelerate the development of clean energy investment opportunities in north Queensland.
The appointment recognises the considerable potential for clean energy investment in Queensland, across renewable energy, energy efficiency and low emissions projects.
“I’m looking forward to speaking with the business community about how the CEFC invests to enable the rollout of technologies that can support Australia’s clean energy transformation, especially in North Queensland,” Ms Lines said.
“We see northern Queensland as an important area where clean energy investments can make a real difference. The CEFC provides project finance for large-scale developments like solar farms and bioenergy projects and works with Australia’s major banks and other financiers to provide accessible finance to businesses and not-for-profit organisations for a range of smaller projects.”
The Australian Government has indicated it will ask the CEFC to create a special Reef Funding Program to support clean energy projects in the Great Barrier Reef catchment region, including those that reduce emissions and improve water quality. While the CEFC has not formally received the associated changes to its Investment Mandate, the appointment of Ms Lines provides a strong focus on the Reef region.
“CEFC finance can support clean energy projects such as solar panels and other renewable energy substitutes on farms as well as more energy efficient equipment in agriculture, local government and tourism, all of which can benefit the Reef,” Ms Lines said.
“We’re also looking to help coastal sewage treatment plants to reduce ocean outfalls with efficient pumps, biogas electricity generation and next generation waste water treatment.
“Clean energy projects that reduce runoff of pollutants, fertiliser and sediment, the installation of more energy and water efficient irrigation systems, pesticide sprayers and fertiliser application systems are also likely to be eligible for our finance.”
Ms Lines, who lives in Townsville, has extensive experience in large scale infrastructure, particularly ports, supply chains and more recently energy and water infrastructure.
Ms Lines was most recently General Manager of Economic Development of Townsville Enterprise. She was previously an advisor to Infrastructure Australia and has worked in seven ports around Australia and eight internationally.
To contact Ms Lines about CEFC investment please email the CEFC in the first instance at [email protected]
