26 January 2004
Advertising Board rejects wind energy complaint
The New Zealand Wind Energy Association (NZWEA) has welcomed the rejection of a complaint to the Advertising Standards
Complaint Board (ASCB) that an advertisement for wind energy was misleading.
In July an anti wind farm lobby group complained to the ASCB that a full page advertisement in the Dominion Post from
the New Zealand Wind Energy Association (NZWEA) was “a deliberate attempt to mislead the public”.
Chief Executive of the NZWEA, James Glennie, said the complete rejection of the complaint was a significant ruling in
that it rejected a number of claims frequently used by opponents of wind energy.
The complaint to the ASCB focused around the level of public support for wind energy; the relative size of modern wind
turbines, the economic case for solar energy compared with wind energy and the relationship between wind turbines and
property prices.
“We are very pleased, but not surprised, with this ruling. The complainant was required by the ASCB to provide evidence
to support their claims and in each instance was unable to do so,” said Mr Glennie.
“This process has been extremely valuable for wind energy in New Zealand. It has been the first time that various
inaccurate stories, rumours and false allegations often circulated by anti wind groups have been formally tested by a
professional, impartial and independent body in New Zealand. “When asked to substantiate these claims in each case the
claims were found to be groundless,” he said.
Mr Glennie said the rejection of the complaint was further confirmation that the wind industry in New Zealand operates
to the highest professional and ethical standards, and that the public could continue to have a high level of confidence
in the wind industry.
“We continue to welcome the chance to engage in informed debate with any and all interested parties about the relative
merits of using wind turbines to generate a significant portion of this country’s electricity requirements.
“We hope that everyone who wishes to engage in that debate will come to the table prepared to engage in discussion on
the basis of facts and evidence,” said Mr Glennie.
ENDS