New Zealand is at a key point in the development of its electricity supply. As the cheap plentiful supply of gas from the Maui gas field, our main source of electricity since the 1970’s, begins to run out, we need to look at other ways to meet our energy needs.

We have some clear choices: we can pursue a “dirty energy” path by adopting coal, oil or imported liquid gas with all the toxic pollution and contribution to climate change they entail. Or we can move to a 100% renewable electricity supply by investing in wind, solar, biomass and energy efficiency. We already get around 70% of our electricity from renewable energy sources.

New Zealand led the world in taking a nuclear free stand and we can lead the world again in embracing renewable energy.

Wind

New Zealand has been described as the “ Saudi Arabia of wind” - we have one of the best wind energy resources in the world. We have enough potential wind energy to produce three times our present power generation each year according to a report by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

Wind energy is the fastest growing energy sector both in New Zealand and throughout the rest of the world. Twenty percent of Denmark ’s electricity comes from wind, while in Germany the wind industry directly or indirectly employs 45,000 people.

In New Zealand , wind energy has increased by 365% since 2004.

For more information on wind check out www.yes2wind.co.nz

DOWNLOADS:
The power and appeal of wind (PDF)

Winds of Change Report (PDF)

Coal

Coal burning is an energy source of the past and has no role to play in this age of climate change.

Coal is the dirtiest of all fossil fuels and one of the most polluting sources of energy. When burned, it emits 72% more carbon dioxide (the main cause of climate change) than gas.

Coal is a toxic cocktail and burning it releases a wide range of heavy metals like mercury, cadmium and lead, cancer-causing chemicals like dioxin, smog-forming nitrogen oxides, acid-forming sulphur pollution and fine particulates which pose a threat to human health.

It also leaves a trail of environmental destruction right back to the source. Coal mining damages forests and impacts river ecosystems through acid mine drainage and heavy metal contamination.

Clean coal? Yeah right.

So called “clean coal” is an attempt by the industry to clean up its image, not its impact on the environment. “Clean coal” technologies just shift pollutants from one waste stream to another, but the pollution still ends up in the environment eventually.

There is also no way to deal with carbon dioxide emissions, which is the main cause of global warming. The fossil fuel industry pins it’s hopes on highly experimental methods to capture and store carbon emissions, but these techniques are at best, a long way off.

A recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showed that it would only be extensively commercially available after 2050. In the mean time, carbon emissions from coal plants would continue to grow and contribute to climate change.

Every dollar that is spent on “carbon capture and storage” research is a dollar wasted – urgently needed money that could have gone into fine tuning and implementing real climate solutions, like wind and solar energy technology, that are available now.

New Zealand has only one major coal fired power station at the moment. It is Huntly power station owned by Genesis. However Mighty River Power is planning the first major coal-fired power station in the country for over 25 years, at Marsden B near Whangarei.

The proposal attracted a nationwide outcry and a record number of submissions to the Regional Council (over 3,000), of which over 95% were opposed. Despite this, Mighty River Power was granted resource consents in September 2005 to proceed with the station. In October 2005 Greenpeace lodged an appeal against this decision in the Environment Court .

You have a voice - make it heard. As an electricity consumer you have a key role to play in letting electricity companies what sort of electricity and environmental future you want.

DOWNLOADS:

Dirty old coal has no place in a sustainable energy future (PDF)

The Environmental Impacts of Coal (PDF)

'Clean Coal' technology (PDF)

Marsden B fact sheet (PDF)

Myths and realities of Marsden B (PDF)

“Review of New Zealand ’s Wind Energy Potential for 2015”, May 2001, a report prepared for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority.

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