28 July 2004

Hon Jim Anderton MP, Progressive Leader

Do Greens want existing hydro plants to be closed?

Progressive leader Jim Anderton says he is perplexed by the latest intemperate comments from the Opposition Green Party in opposition to hydro-electricity generation.

"The Greens say they are alarmed at the very thought that there may be scope to promote the further development of renewable electricity sources to underpin our social and economic development.

"To be consistent no doubt the Greens will next be calling for our existing hydro electricity generation plants to be closed down in the interests of what they hilariously call 'promoting environmental and cultural values'," the Progressive leader said.

The Ministry of Economic Development has recently published two reports, Water Bodies of National Importance and Identification of Potential Hydroelectric Resources (http://www.med.govt.nz/ers/environment/water-bodies/index.html)

The reports form part of a large body of empirical and analytical research being conducted by the Labour Progressive coalition government, all of it publicly available.

"To be successful, secure and growing, electricity generating capacity will have to be provided. Only the anti-developmental strategy espoused by the Green Party could possibly be opposed to research and evidenced-based attempts to constructively meet that challenge," Jim Anderton said.

The Progressive leader is Minister for Economic, Industry & Regional Development. The Progressive Party is committed to promoting policies to create high quality jobs through regional and industry development.

ENDS

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