latest news
June 28, 2007
Council Decision Serious Blow To Motorimu Wind Farm
Palmerston North wind decision not excusable
Palmerston North Regional Council announced yesterday that they would only give partial consent to the construction of a new wind farm near Motorimu. Although the original plan for the wind farm included 127 wind turbines the council Commissioners have only given approval to 75. Christine Bowen, a spokeswomen for Allco, the developers of the wind farm, said that the decision came as a great disappointment. Allco is now considering whether to appeal against the decision in the Environment Court or to go ahead with constructing the smaller wind farm.
The commissioner's decision against the farm has been sharply criticized by the head of the NZ Wind Energy Association, Fraser Clark. Mr Clarks says the Commissioners cannot escape the reality that their decision has lowered New Zealand’s capacity for sustainable electricity generation.
Although the council defended it's decision on the basis that there are other sites available for wind farms, Mr Clark responded that “It is not good enough for the Commissioners to shrug off their obligation to consider the national and environmental benefits of wind farms by saying they could be built somewhere else.
“Apart from the three wind farms now almost complete, all other projects are just
drawing board ideas. “The reality is that the Commissioners’ decision lowers New Zealand’s wind generation potential. That means we are going to continue to be reliant on the thermal generation that has played a significant role in our increasing carbon emissions."
By siding with the local objectors the decision has reduced the Government’s ability to
meet renewable generation targets, and pushed the need for clean energy
development onto another site and another community,” Mr Clark said.
He said the decision demonstrated the urgent need for more leadership from the
Government to help guide and direct local authorities when considering renewable
energy projects.
Post a comment
Track the emergence of wind farms on Google
News
|
