Renewable Energy Vital - So Why the Delay?

Press Release from the New Zealand Wind Energy Association 27 September 2000

"Long on rhetoric and short on action sums up my initial reaction" said Mr Alistair Wilson, chairman of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association, commenting on the release of the National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy today.

"There is no "how much" and "by when" renewable energy target. It¹s a case of 'we are working on it', and 'it¹s maybe a year away' which is what we were told last year. This strategy does not provide the certainty necessary for new renewable generation investments that could avert possible further hydro electricity shortages next winter."

"This lack of leadership by the Government, promising big things with a further year¹s delay, means New Zealand falls further behind other countries which have definite mandatory renewable energy targets in their policy mix. It will make achieving New Zealand's greenhouse gas emission targets even harder."

"The Minister and the Board of ECCA seem to have lost the plot. What happened to the Government Policy Statement on energy and the so-called partnership between energy efficiency and renewables. Renewables are very much the poor cousin, providing a nice gloss in press releases and publication pictures, but in reality nothing to move the industry forward to allow it to contribute to diversifying New Zealand¹s energy supply, and to a clean green sustainable future."

"They appear to be captured by, and lack the fortitude to stand up to, officials. The market is not perfect and they have failed to develop a Strategy with vision that will move New Zealand toward the goal of a sustainable energy future" concluded Mr Wilson.

ENDS

For more information contact: Alistair Wilson, 021 194 3083 Or Ian Shearer, manager NZ Wind Energy Association, 025 306 004

-- Ian Shearer Manager New Zealand Wind Energy Association P O Box 553 Wellington, New Zealand [Courier:130 Hutt Rd, Petone] Phone: +64-4-586 2003 Fax: +64-4-586 2004 Mobile 025 306 004 Email: nzwea@windenergy.org.nz Web: http://www.windenergy.org.nz