Govt energy strategy to change landscape

Govt energy strategy to change landscape

The Government's attempt to wean the country from fossil fuels, part of its strategy to cut greenhouse gasses, will change the landscape in more ways than just putting legions of wind turbines on the horizon. There will be the losers – energy companies whose generation comes from gas, coal and oil – and the winners, ... Complete story »

Contact Energy plans largest New Zealand wind farm

~ New Zealand
16 Oct 2007 ~

Contact Energy plans largest New Zealand wind farm

Contact Energy Ltd., New Zealand's biggest publicly traded energy company, may spend as much as NZ$2 billion ($1.5 billion) building the nation's largest wind farm to help reduce its reliance on gas-fired generation. The Hauauru ma raki site, near Port Waikato on the North Island, has the potential for 218 turbines with a total capacity of ... Complete story »
 

 

 

Blackouts likely from new 'renewables' plan

Power blackouts will be more likely because of the Government's energy strategy, says the oil and gas industry. The Government believes 90 per cent of New Zealand's electricity can come from renewable sources such as wind and hydro without compromising supply. "We disagree entirely," Petroleum Exploration and Production Association executive officer John Pfahlert said. The target, compared ... Complete story »

Minister Pushing for Increase

Wind turbines may increase seven fold

The Energy Minister is pushing for a seven fold increase in the amount of power generated by wind turbines. David Parker said today on TVOne's Agenda that there is substantial room to increase turbine numbers. "It's about 2% of our generation at the moment. it might go up about sevenfold to around 15%" Currently there are 241 turbines ... Complete story »

News Watch

Wind farm planned for Waikaretu

Plans for a major new wind farm about 35km northwest of Huntly will be announced in Hamilton next week. Power company Contact Energy will unveil its plans on Tuesday. It is understood Contact Energy has been looking at a site in the Waikaretu-Limestone Downs area. Property owners in the area said they had been approached by Contact Energy ... Complete story »

New fossil fuel plants banned for 10 years

New coal and gas-fuelled power stations have effectively been banned for 10 years, leaving plans for a $500 million project near Auckland destined for the scrapheap. State-owned Genesis Energy's gas turbine plant at Rodney, which has been on the drawing board for two years, appears to be the main casualty of the Government's new long-term ... Complete story »

Approval given for 3 turbines

Central Otago is to get its first wind farm albeit a small one. Electricity company Pioneer Generation Limited has been granted consent to build up to three wind-powered generators on a spur above the Teviot River at Horseshoe Bend, about 15km east of Roxburgh. The company plans initially to install two turbines with a combined capacity of ... Complete story »

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News Articles from around the country

~ New Zealand
10 Oct 2007 ~

Windfarm investigation blows on

A proposed wind farm in the Ahipara gumfields is still undergoing investigation by the Department of Conservation. Meridian Energy applied for a concession from DOC in 2006 to develop a wind farm on the Epakauri conservation area. The proposed site, about 1600 hectares, is on the south western end of the Ahipara gumfields plateau south of the ... Complete story »

Residents Still Hope Wind Farm Will Go West

A group of Makara residents are still battling Meridian Energy over wind turbines, despite the turning of the first sod for construction in late September. The Environment Court has given Meridian the go ahead for its commercial wind farm, 'West Wind', at Makara, but with conditions attached. It is those conditions that have opposition group, ... Complete story »

Investigation for windfarm on conservation land blows on

BECALMED: A proposed windfarm on Department of Conservation land is still undergoing investigation. A proposed wind farm in the Ahipara gumfields is still undergoing investigation by the Department of Conservation. Meridian Energy applied for a concession from DOC in 2006 to develop a wind farm on the Epakauri conservation area. The proposed site, about 1600 hectares, is on ... Complete story »

Further Consultation For Proposed Battle Hill Wind Turbines

A FULL meeting of Greater Wellington Regional Council has backed the Landcare Committee's decision to carry out further public consultation on the draft Battle Hill Farm Forest Park Management Plan, as a result of a recent hearing on the draft plan. At the recent Parks and Forests Hearing Subcommittee, representatives from the Pauatahanui Residents Association ... Complete story »

Group to consider appeal against wind farm

[ News Watch Home ]

Opponents of a planned Otago wind farm will decide today whether to appeal against the decision allowing it to go ahead.

A joint hearing committee of the Clutha District Council and the Otago Regional Council has granted a series of resource consents to TrustPower for the project, which will involve 100 145m-high turbines on land north of Lake Mahinerangi, 50km west of Dunedin, at a cost of more than $400 million.

The wind farm's capacity will be 200MW – enough power to supply about 100,000 homes.

Upland Landscape Protection Society committee member David Karena-Holmes said the 300-member group would meet in Dunedin today to discuss an Environment Court appeal against the decision.

He said the group was not opposed to the judicious use of wind power, but members believed the proposed farms at Mahinerangi and on the nearby Lammermoor Range, the site of Meridian Energy's planned $2 billion wind farm, were too big.

"Although some of the area has been modified (for farming), I don't see that is a reason to destroy it any more," he said.

Karena-Holmes, who lives in Dunedin, said a further concern over TrustPower's proposed wind farm was proximity to Te Papanui Conservation Area.

Lee Stream farmer Peter Doherty, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the decision. Although an appeal would be expensive, he was "90 per cent sure" of appealing, depending on the support of other opponents.

Yesterday, TrustPower welcomed the consent decision.

Chief executive Keith Tempest said the company would wait until the appeal period was over before reviewing the business case for the project.

By DAVID WILLIAMS DUNEDIN — The Press

stuff.co.nz

Dunedin wind farm consent granted

~ New Zealand
01 Oct 2007 ~

Dunedin wind farm consent granted

TrustPower has been granted consent to build a $400 million wind farm near Dunedin, despite overwhelming opposition to the project in the public submission process. A joint hearing committee of Clutha District Council and Otago Regional Council has granted TrustPower consent to build the 100 turbine Mahinerangi Wind Farm, 50km west of Dunedin. It will have ... Complete story »

Opponent disappointed but not surprised

~ New Zealand
01 Oct 2007 ~

Opponent disappointed but not surprised

Having lost the first round, Peter Doherty sees the Environment Court as the next arena for opponents of the Mahinerangi wind farm. Mr Doherty (47), a fourth generation Lee Stream farmer, says he is extremely disappointed with the decision to grant TrustPower consents to build a 200MW wind farm at Mahinerangi. ''It disappoints me but does not ... Complete story »

Wind farm consent granted; opponents preparing appeal

Wind farm consent granted; opponents preparing appeal

Otago's first major wind farm has been given the go-ahead, but opponents expecting that outcome have been busy preparing a comprehensive appeal against the move that could see the entire application revisited some time next year. A joint hearing committee of the Clutha District Council and Otago Regional Council has granted a series of resource consents .

 

 

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Consultation for proposed wind turbines

~ Press Releases, New Zealand
28 Sep 2007 ~

Consultation for proposed wind turbines

Press Release: Greater Wellington Regional Council News release 28 September 2007 Further consultation for proposed Battle Hill wind turbines A full meeting of Greater Wellington Regional Council has backed the Landcare Committee's decision to carry out further public consultation on the draft Battle Hill Farm Forest Park Management Plan, as a result of a recent hearing on the draft ... Complete story »