energy Archive

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  The best way to oil independence is to provide alternatives and use less - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Ministry of Economic Development’s Briefing to the incoming Energy Minister predicts New Zealand could become a net exporter of petroleum by 2030 if new oil fields are developed. It’s a laudable goal to reduce our expensive dependence on foreign oil but it would be a lot smarter to invest in alternatives like better public transport, renewable electricity and sustainable alternative fuels. read more
  February 3, 2012 10:14 am - 30 Comments
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  Energy Strategy to worsen Energy Outlook - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Ministry of Economic Development have released their Energy Outlook for New Zealand and it should be a wake-up call for the Government. The report projects New Zealand’s future energy supply, demand, prices and greenhouse gas emissions but the major challenges identified in it are at odds with the Governments ‘drill it, mine’ fossil-fuel-focused Energy Strategy. read more
  January 30, 2012 12:34 pm - 45 Comments
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  The truth about the RMA - by Russel Norman

  
  
  
  Nick Smith has made various claims about RMA delays. This letter has some inconvenient truths for the Minister.   read more
  November 3, 2011 9:15 am - 6 Comments
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  Boom times for oil and gas? - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  This morning’s  Dominion article about ‘boom times’ for the gas and oil exploration industry is an intriguing, even slightly funny, mix of boosterism, drum beating and dissimulation. The Chair of PEPANZ appears almost breathless with excitement as he seeks to fulfil the primary objective of his organisation, “to publicise, promote and advance the interests of [...] read more
  September 7, 2011 9:59 am - 6 Comments
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  How many jobs will oil and gas bring NZ? - by Kennedy Graham

  
  
  
  On Tuesday the Government released the final version of its backwards-looking energy strategy. Of passing note is the removal of any overt reference to lignite coal.  Of course bioenergy could be code for it, or ‘alternative transport fuels’ (the Energy Outlook 2010 specifically cites lignite diesel as an alternative transport fuel with potential.) But basically [...] read more
  September 1, 2011 12:30 pm - 24 Comments
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  Found on floor outside Rodney Hide’s office - by frog

  
  
  
  It’s amazing the things that turn up when I’m hopping around Parliament.  Look what I found a few hours ago on a rare visit to the Act Party offices: read more
  April 1, 2011 12:01 am - 12 Comments
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  Energy security and business - by David Clendon

  
  
  
  An interesting document has come out of Lloyd that reveals some of their thinking about energy security, and the risks and opportunities it provides for business. Lloyds point out that 300 years of experience has given them a bit of an understanding of risk, and it is from that platform that they suggest that now is a really good time to get serious about finding ‘a new energy paradigm’. read more
  June 23, 2010 9:00 am - 5 Comments
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  Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico – again - by frog

  
  
  
  I had high hopes for the so called “top kill”. An end to the leak would mean that things can only get better from here on, that the beginning of the end has started. But no, it was not to be. Here are a few bits and bobs I’ve run across this weekend: This disaster [...] read more
  May 30, 2010 10:47 pm - 53 Comments
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  Herd homes vs cubicles like home vs prison - by Jeanette Fitzsimons

  
  
  
  Have you ever felt that after a long day inside a building you just have to get out and feel the sun and breathe some air? I guess not being able to do that is one  of the punishments the prison system imposes on offenders. But even they get an hour or so out in [...] read more
  December 9, 2009 3:35 pm - 11 Comments
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  Mokihinui – Brownlee’s burp - by frog

  
  
  
  So this week our Minister of Mining and Damming (aka Energy and Resources) let slip that the Mokihinui hydro-dam “would not go ahead”. Does he know something or was it just his ‘opinion’? Whatever the brain-burp was, he was ill-advised to say it but it’d be nice to think that there may be Moki fans in Government – perhaps they are closet readers of the 1400-fan facebook page! read more
  November 5, 2009 10:16 pm - 28 Comments
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  Love Wild Rivers? Give them your support - by frog

  
  
  
  Cool. Today a new campaign has been launched for one of New Zealand’s most iconic features – our Wild Rivers. It’s great to see diverse groups – tree-huggers, deer-stalkers, bird-watchers, knobbly-kneed trampers, sharp-edged climbers, risky rafters, kool-kat kayakers, and angelic anglers – representing “over 100,000 New Zealanders” and united in seeking to protect wild rivers [...] read more
  October 28, 2009 12:37 pm - 3 Comments
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  Chalking Nick in Nelson - by frog

  
  
  
  Chalking the opinion of many on the streets of Nelson this morning and challenging Nick Smith, who welcomed Schedule 4 thus: “This Bill at long last puts some pegs in the sand in some very significant areas of New Zealand and says to the mining industries of New Zealand: “These are no-go areas.”…” read more
  October 27, 2009 2:31 pm - 7 Comments
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  Undermining our most generous gifts - by frog

  
  
  
  On 23 September 1887 – 122 years ago yesterday – Te Heuheu Tukino of Tuwharetoa gifted the mountains of Tongariro, Ngaruhoe and Ruapehu to the people of Aotearoa…. This anniversary was sullied by the fact that the Crown is now considering the Park’s mining potential. read more
  September 24, 2009 2:30 pm - 12 Comments
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  Damning the tourism jewels - by frog

  
  
  
  The Greens continue to campaign alongside others for the Mokihinui River gorge in the Buller District to remain a wild and scenic free-flowing river. Meridian Energy has applied to the Councils and DOC for consents and concessions to dam the gorge. It’s on protected conservation land, and has historic artifacts such as the old pack [...] read more
  June 22, 2009 1:01 pm - 11 Comments
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  Procurement: which costs are saved? - by frog

  
  
  
  The Government has just announced it is to review and reform state sector procurement. The Government Procurement Reform Agenda is based around four key themes: ·         Cost savings. ·         Building procurement capability and capacity. ·         Enhanced business participation. ·         Improved governance, oversight and accountability. Cost savings:  just to the Government’s expenditure or also saving costs [...] read more
  June 11, 2009 11:55 am - 4 Comments
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  Green light for London Array - by frog

  
  
  
  The world’s biggest offshore wind project, the London Array, just took one step closer to reality as the required 2.2 billion euros in finance has been secured, despite the global financial meltdown. This has important implications for New Zealand. read more
  May 14, 2009 9:48 am - 16 Comments
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  Nice words, but where’s the action? - by frog

  
  
  
  The release of a Strategy for New Zealand Dairy Farming slipped quietly under the public’s radar this week, with few media picking it up. At the Strategy launch, the PM and Ag Minister David Carter mooed in the direction of the environment: the PM said, “It is important that farmers step up and take leadership [...] read more
  May 9, 2009 8:05 pm - 6 Comments
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  Bluerush – coming hydro or not - by frog

  
  
  
  Last week, Eloise Gibson in the Herald wrote about the sometimes tough choice between renewable generation and other environmental concerns; and on the same day The Press editorial made a strong call on the matter – that “Unique landscapes should always come first ahead of desires for more electricity. If we have to turn off [...] read more
  April 21, 2009 1:51 pm - 106 Comments
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  Bill Gross: Great ideas for finding new energy - by frog

  
  
  
  Another great TED link sent to me from Nigel: Bill Gross, the founder of Idealab, talks about his life as an inventor, starting with his high-school company selling solar energy plans and kits. Learn here about a groundbreaking system for solar cells — and some questions we haven’t yet solved. I shall try and find [...] read more
  April 15, 2009 3:13 pm - 1 Comment
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  Stupid is as stupid does - by frog

  
  
  
  G is for grrrrrrr. G is grump grump. G is for Godawful. G is for Genesis In the beginning there was stupidity and then – Good Lord – there was more stupidity. The latest chapter in this sorry saga called the Book of Genesis is the resource consent for the Rodney gas plant granted by [...] read more
  March 30, 2009 11:45 am - 85 Comments