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SW: federal government pulls the pin on funding for project, decision welcomed by environmentalists
An application for construction approval for the plant was accepted by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria in May 2011. On its website, the EPA states that over 4000 submissions were received on HRL's application.<ref>Environment Protection Authority Victoria [http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/bus/comments/dual-gas.asp "Dual Gas Pty Ltd – dual gas demonstration power station, Morwell"], Environment Protection Authority website, October 22, 2010.</ref> with a majority opposing the project.<ref name="EV">Environment Victoria, [http://www.environmentvictoria.org.au/media/new-coal-fired-power-station-faces-massive-public-opposition "New coal-fired power station faces massive public opposition"], Media Release, October 6, 2010.</ref> Public comment on HRL's application closed on October 6. The EPA was scheduled to make make a decision on the application by January 2, 2011.<ref name="EV"/> However, the agency's assessment of the project was suspended after further information was sought from the company.<ref>Stuart Fletcher, [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/07/3108090.htm "EPA halts power plant assessment"], ''ABC News'', January 7, 2011.</ref>
In May 2011 four major banks in Australia denied funding for the coal plant, raising doubts about its viability. The denial came weeks after the plant was initially approved by the Victorian Environment Protection Authority. The EPA's decision would allow the first coal plant to be build in Victoria in nearly 20 years.<ref name="No">Royce Millar & Adam Morton, [http://www.theage.com.au/national/big-banks-no-to-coal-plant-20110520-1ewxj.html "Big banks 'no' to coal plant"], ''The Age'', May 21, 2011.</ref> In late July 2012 the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, [[Martin Ferguson]], announced that, after four extensions granted to HRL to comply with conditions of a $100 million funding agreement, the government had decided to withdraw funding as the company "did not meet the required conditions set out in the funding deed."<ref>Martin Ferguson, [http://minister.ret.gov.au/MediaCentre/MediaReleases/Pages/DualGasProject.aspx "Funding not Proceeding for Dual-Gas Project"], Media Release, July 27, 2012.</ref> The decision was welcomed by environmentalists. Environment Victoria Campaigns Director Mark Wakeham stated that "this is likely to be the final nail in the coffin for the HRL proposal, and for all new coal-fired power stations across Australia."<ref>Environment Victoria, [http://environmentvictoria.org.au/media/game-over-hrl-coal-fired-power-station "Game over for HRL coal-fired power station: Federal funding withdrawn from polluting power station"], Media Release, July 27, 2012.</ref> Greenpeace Australia Climate and Energy Campaigner, Julien Vincent, stated that “this result is a great reward for the years of hard work by environment organisations, grassroots groups and the broader community to resist this dirty project.”<ref>Greenpeace, [http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/mediacentre/media-releases/climate/Greenpeace-delight-at-cancelled-coal-funding/ "Greenpeace delight at cancelled coal funding"], Media Release, July 27, 2012.</ref>
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