Deal signed to explore Tararua windfarm site

Seventeen landowners in the Tararua District have signed an agreement with a power company enabling it to further investigate a potential windfarm site. Mighty River Power wants to build a 200-Megawatt wind farm in the Puketoi Range, east of Pahiatua. There are seven wind farms in New Zealand. Phil Champion, who chairs the Puketoi landowners group, says ... Complete story »

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Wind farm may not be windfall

A Gore District Council planning consultant, working on TrustPower's wind farm application, has cast doubt on whether the council would be justified in charging the company the full development levy it was entitled to. In a detailed report to the windfarm hearing panel, Dunedin consultant Allan Cubitt has recommended consent be granted and that calculation of ... Complete story »

The future of power or a large white elephant?

Wind power used to be considered the environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Bruce Holloway looks at how the hearing into the Te Uku wind farm has changed that view for many people. Romantic notions about wind energy have taken a severe buffeting at the Ngaruawahia hearing into Wel Networks' proposal to build a $200 million ... Complete story »