Community will be delighted with Awhitu wind farm

8 September 2005

Community will be delighted with Awhitu wind farm consent

A community group supporting Genesis Energy’s Awhitu wind farm proposal today said it was delighted with the Environment Court consent for the development.

Charmaine Watts of Waiuku in Support of Wind Energy (WISE) said the consent for the 18 megawatt wind farm on the Awhitu Peninsula was a positive development for New Zealand.

“This is a small but significant wind farm proposal which will make a positive difference to New Zealand’s electricity supply,” she said.

“This is a particularly useful proposal as the electricity will be generated very close to the major Auckland market. There will also be significant local benefits around tourism and local businesses.

“This is a project that enjoys strong support from the local community and it will be welcomed by the vast majority of locals. The sooner it can be built and begin producing clean electricity the better for the country,” she said.

Ms Watts said a statistically valid survey of local opinion regarding the Awhitu proposal found that 70 per cent of the local community supported the plan, with only 13 per cent opposing it.

She said other national surveys were in line with the Awhitu survey.

“The Environment Court has found there is a strong national benefit in this proposal and I believe the Court has reached the right decision,” she said.

“There is a very strong wind resource on the Awhitu Peninsula that this country needs to turn into clean, reliable and renewable electricity.

“We are just thrilled that the green light has finally been given for this exciting project.”

ENDS

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