energy Archive

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  Farrar wrong on renewables - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  As you might have caught we have (alongside Labour) announced a plan to cut excessive profits from the Electricity Sector and return the money to households. David Farrar over on Kiwiblog yesterday posted about the total cost of Electricity Production claiming that renewable options – which we prefer are more expensive than coal and gas. [...] read more
  April 18, 2013 4:35 pm - 154 Comments
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  IMF calls for fossil fuel subsidy reform - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The IMF have come out strongly against fossil fuel subsidies, saying that they are threatening both the environment and the stability of the global economy. The IMF has calculated around $1.9 trillion worldwide, or 8 percent of Government revenue is spent on energy subsidies the vast majority of these contributing to climate change. read more
  March 28, 2013 2:31 pm - 94 Comments
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  Lignite coal to stay in the hole - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  I am celebrating today after the news that Solid Energy will be dropping its Lignite project in Southland. This is a win for the climate and our environment and for Southland. read more
  February 22, 2013 3:50 pm - 20 Comments
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  What is New Zealand’s best beach? - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Summer in Aotearoa means sun, sand, BBQs and beaches. But the beaches we love are under threat from deep sea oil drilling. Vote for your favourite beach to find out more. read more
  December 22, 2012 7:22 pm - 23 Comments
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  Fair hearing for Denniston in Environment Court - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Forest and Bird deserves every success in its Environment Court case to protect the distinctive coal measures ecosystems and landscapes of the Denniston Plateau. This week the Court began hearing the Society’s appeal against West Coast councils granting resource consents under the RMA to Australian miner, Bathurst Resources’ destructive plans for an open cast coal [...] read more
  October 30, 2012 2:04 pm - 1 Comment
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  EU warns against fracking while NZ oil lobbyist has head in the clouds - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Last week three new reports commissioned by the European Union about fracking were released, which voiced strong concerns around fracking for shale gas, the unconventional gas sector and the lack of sufficient regulation in place to deal with the shale gas boom. read more
  September 12, 2012 4:48 pm - 3 Comments
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  Better choices than digging holes in the ground - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  The Government’s “drill it, mine it, frack it” economic plan for New Zealand is a lazy gamble that belies a lack a vision. read more
  August 29, 2012 5:15 pm - 8 Comments
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  Gas hydrates and the extreme energy age - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  If you needed proof we are in the post-peak oil, extreme energy age one need just look at where the Government is going for their next fix. The Government has recently announced the first tranche of the MoBIE Science and Investment Round which included $3.2 million funding for gas hydrate exploration. read more
  August 29, 2012 11:30 am - 9 Comments
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  Insulation shambles needs sorting so Christchurch homes can be warmer, drier and healthier - by Eugenie Sage

  
  
  
  Our houses help determine our health. Everyone has a right to a warm, dry and healthy home.  Warm homes can reduce respiratory illnesses and mean fewer days off sick from school or work, and fewer premature deaths among older persons. Much of our housing stock is not built for our climate. Around 1.6 million New [...] read more
  June 25, 2012 2:28 pm - 14 Comments
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  A twitterstorm is brewing - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Numerous environmental groups are joining forces to try and break the world record for most tweets of a single hashtag #endfossilfuelsubsidies in a 24 hour period. This is in advance of the Rio+20 Earth Summit, where climate change is expected to feature in discussions. read more
  June 18, 2012 11:13 am - 2 Comments
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  Jobs and economic development blowing in the wind. - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  New Zealand has been described as the ‘Saudi Arabia of wind’ and I’m optimistic it will play a bigger role in our electricity generating mix. read more
  June 14, 2012 10:48 am - 28 Comments
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  Last day to submit in opposition to two ghastly Government Bills - by frog

  
  
  
  Today is the last day for submissions on two ghastly Government Bills – the Mixed Ownership Model Bill and the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill. If you haven’t already made submissions opposing these Bills, please try to find the time today to do so, even if you can manage only a brief submission on each. read more
  April 13, 2012 8:51 am - No Comments
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  Stratford public meeting: unanimous support for fracking moratorium from the frontlines - by Gareth Hughes

  
  
  
  Last night I attended a public meeting in Stratford, Taranaki to discuss the local hydraulic fracturing or fracking occurring in the region. The community passed a unanimous motion to call on the Taranaki Councils to place an immediate moratorium on fracking, and to call for an independent inquiry into the process and what is occurring in Taranaki. read more
  March 1, 2012 2:25 pm - 3 Comments
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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 - 31 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
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  Jeanette questions the wisdom of the Genesis board - by frog

  
  
  
  Jeanette asked the Minister for State Owned Enterprises in the House yesterday whether he has confidence in the board of Genesis Energy. Genesis is proceeding with a consent application for a gas fired power station for which it admits it has no gas and is not economically viable “in a real-world, commercial sense”. The Rodney [...] read more
  March 25, 2009 4:08 pm - 19 Comments
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  Reasons not to believe in John Key’s leadership - by frog

  
  
  
  The Energy [R]evolution is Greenpeace’s plan to save the planet from catastrophic climate change. Susan Sarandon narrates the first of three ‘Reasons to Believe’. This one explains why energy efficiency is so important and also so easily achieved, just by small changes such as a switch from traditional lightbulbs to more energy efficient ones. In [...] read more
  March 24, 2009 3:41 pm - 22 Comments
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  Lester Brown on cutting emissions 80% by 2020 - by frog

  
  
  
  The following YouTube clip is Part 4 from a recent lecture Lester Brown gave on Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization and will take you into the heart of the Plan B message. The presentation was to the Chemical Society of Washington on May 8, 2008. Lester, who is President of the Earth Policy [...] read more
  March 8, 2009 8:00 am - 13 Comments
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  Air Freshener: A dose of reality - by frog

  
  
  
  The This Is Reality campaign has published their latest “Clean Coal” advertisement. It was directed by Academy-award winners Joel and Ethan Coen and it’s pretty funny. There is no such thing as clean coal, Gerry. read more
  February 27, 2009 9:13 am - 9 Comments
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  Energy Minister’s recipe for economic disaster - by frog

  
  
  
  The government’s call to scrap the New Zealand Energy Strategy is yet another instance of the environment being sacrificed on the altar of exponential growth, and is a recipe for economic disaster. However, there may be a tiny silver lining. At least this time the Energy Minister has not hidden behind the farce of “balance” [...] read more
  February 26, 2009 4:14 pm - 16 Comments
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  National’s two-faced approach to Australian harmonisation - by frog

  
  
  
  I laughed out loud as I read the National Business Review’s article about how keen National is to fast track the development of a single market. Apparently Gerry Brownlee didn’t get the memo, as he has summarily torn up a long standing, well developed standards agreement with Australia in his first few weeks. The article, [...] read more
  February 2, 2009 11:32 am - 25 Comments
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  The New Copernicans - by frog

  
  
  
  It wasn’t that long ago in historical terms that Nicolaus Copernicus bucked the established western wisdom and asserted that the earth may in fact orbit the sun. He rightfully feared the retribution of the authorities and was careful to pay them tribute when he finally did publish shortly before his death. Although the evidence has [...] read more
  November 19, 2008 11:43 am - 23 Comments