Clean energy sector ready to get by with less under Abbott THE renewable energy sector says it is optimistic about its future under the Abbott Government despite cuts to its funding. Speaking on the sidelines of a Canberra resources conference, the heads of both the renewable lobby, the Clean Energy Council and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) - whose funding is set to be cut - said they did not expect big changes in the sector from the change of government. "We're very pleased there remains a cross-party consensus on the overall 5 per cent targeted reduction (in emissions)," Clean Energy Council chief executive David Green said. Mr Abbott was very firm on the commitment to that target during the election. Mr Green said he was not concerned about comments yesterday from new Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane that the Renewable Energy Target would be reviewed, because legislation required this be done every two years in any case. Mr Green said he hoped the Coalition would overturn the biannual reviews because they reduced certainty for investors that may otherwise be keen to invest in renewable energy. ARENA chairman Greg Bourne said the government had not been in touch regarding cuts to the agency's $3 billion funding out to 2020 that were flagged during the election. We have our current budget and we have not heard anything different in regards to it. "My view is the government is going to be taking efficiency dividends everywhere and I don't think we'll be excluded," Mr Bourne said. We've had great support all the way through the bill, the act in its first year of existence from the Opposition. Now they are the government, I don't think that will change.