Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, has written to Energy Minister Martin Ferguson today asking him to guarantee that the $75 million of Federal funding earmarked for the Solar Systems project in Mildura be quarantined for the solar industry.

The company behind the proposed Mildura solar power station, Solar Systems, has gone into receivership before receiving any of the promised Federal funding. The $75 million allocated to the project would be helpfully allocated to projects such as the Solar Flagships or Remote Regional Power Generation Program.

"Too often, solar power projects are left to scrounge for scraps left behind after billion dollar polluter handouts," Senator Milne said.

"The $75 million that had been allocated to Solar Systems must be used to bring solar power into Australian homes rather than ending up back in Government coffers or, worse, in the pockets of polluters.

"The Rudd Government recently cut the hugely successful Remote Regional Power Generation Program because it ran out of its allocated funding. This $75 million would be welcomed by communities in remote parts of Australian keen to clean their air and water by getting off dirty diesel.

"There has been a growing chorus of concern that the Rudd Government's Solar Flagships program - a classic 'Hollow Men' idea without any policy backing - may be unworkable. The injection of further funds, or a change in its direction towards loan guarantees, may rescue it from the same fate as Solar Systems.

"I look forward to receiving confirmation from Minister Ferguson that these funds will still be used to bring solar power into people's homes."

Senator Milne's letter to Minister Ferguson is available on request