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Hodgson Sees Solution in the Wind
Hodgson Sees Solution in the Wind
Friday 9 May 2003, Auckland - Today Greenpeace congratulated Pete Hodgson on his support for renewable energy projects after the announcement of Te Apiti wind farm project by Meridian Energy.
“We’re encouraged to see the Minister of Energy pointing out the huge potential of wind power for New Zealand’s future energy needs,” said Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Vanessa Atkinson. “New Zealand should proudly be heading towards a wind-powered future. Clearly options like burning dirty coal and other fossil fuels are antiquated and out of line with our Kyoto Protocol commitments and protecting the world’s climate.”
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) name carbon dioxide, created when fossil fuels such as coal and oil are burnt, to be a significant greenhouse gas influencing climate change.
“Wind is free. Wind generated power could be one of the cheapest sources of electricity when carbon taxes hits coal and other fossil fuel forms of generation. But the Government must put in place mechanisms to move New Zealand to a 100% renewable future,” said Atkinson.
“We look forward to further announcements from the Government as to how they will build renewables into a response to the current energy crisis by moving New Zealand to a clean green energy future”.
According to the Government’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), “…the total long-term potential [for wind energy generation] has been assessed to be in the order of 100,000 gigawatt hours per year, three times our present generation.” [1]
“New Zealand has one of the best wind resources in the world – the present New Zealand project announcement is only the tip of the iceberg in the future of wind energy here,” concluded Atkinson.
On 1 May the biggest wind farm
development in the Southern Hemisphere was announced in
Australia. The 180 MW Portland Wind Energy Project will be
actively generating pollution-free power for 100,000 homes
by mid- 2005.
Greenpeace
Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice.
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.
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