South Island decision looms over proposed Puketiro windfarm
Local attention has turned south after the New Zealand Environment Court rejected Meridian Energy?s bid to build the country?s largest windfarm in Otago. British energy development firm RES is hoping to build a large windfarm in the Pauatahanui Hills. RES development manager Ralph Rogge is waiting nervously for the outcome of Meridian?s appeal on the court ruling. ?It?s an important project that has been derailed; it will set a precedent for what is happening in New Zealand for all semi-large scale projects. ?The environment court?s decision on Project Hayes was unclear and [Meridian] is saying the decision has not been based on current [resource management act] law,? says Mr Rogge. In July this year, RES abandoned plans to use Battle Hill Forest Park for windfarm access after Preserve Pauatahanui and other local groups pressured the Greater Wellington Regional Council with legal action. Preserve Pauatahanui spokesperson Diane Strugnell says New Zealand has enough windfarms and should concentrate on boosting alternative forms on energy. ?[The Meridian] decision raises the bar for windfarm companies, there are lots of other facts you have to take into account, you have to do the sums. ?For an island nation like ours ... to get the most out of wind you shouldn?t have more than 10 percent in the system. This is because all wind farms need back up energy generation when the wind is too strong or too light,? says Mrs Strugnell. More secure energy options such as tidal and geothermal should be invested in before wind energy. She says conservation should be the first litmus test for new forms of energy, and more windfarms on the national grid does not currently stack up. ?It?s like when we used to trim back files for sending them on the computer, and now that the capacity is larger we just send huge files. ?It?s the same with energy; just because we are building these alternative sources doesn?t mean we should carry on like before; like nothing has changed and we don?t need to worry about it. ?We need to conserve more, not just grow our ability to make energy,? she says. Hydro energy is often cited as being a renewable backup for wind, but Mrs Strugnell says the swing between high and low winds are too much for the system to handle. ?Usually these windfarms are backed up by carbon producing sources.? Building up wind infrastructure should be a long-term goal coupled with other technologies, but not pushed beyond its capabilities so companies can continue to pollute with carbon credits, she says. For more information on the Meridian windfarm decision, Mrs Strugnell suggests reading Bryan Leyland?s work on the issue.
