PRESS RELEASE
Sustainable Energy Forum
20 April 2006
Oil Alternatives: Urgent Action Needed
“Government must stop delaying action on support for alternatives to imported fuel,” said Tim Jones, transport
spokesperson for The Sustainable Energy Forum Inc. (SEF).
“With oil prices continuing to rise, and future supplies uncertain, the lack of will by Government Ministers and
officials to get on with implementing policies designed to lessen New Zealand's dependence on oil is deplorable,” Tim
Jones said.
"The Government has some good policy ideas on transport. But a combination of bureaucratic inertia, industry resistance
and the desire not to offend coalition partners means that everything is taking far too long.”
"It's good that many New Zealanders are buying smaller, more fuel-efficient cars," Tim Jones said, "but the Government
could lend a helping hand by introducing a 'feebate' system for energy efficient vehicles, making it more expensive to
import and register inefficient cars and correspondingly cheaper to import and register efficient ones. We should also
implement mandatory vehicle fuel economy labeling and impose challenging minimum efficiency standards. Steps like this
are 'quick wins' that we should be doing now."
“A mechanism to encourage biofuel blends is needed now. It does not need to be compulsory – let the consumers choose.
Government’s role is to set compulsory alternative fuel targets, and realistic penalties, and then let the fuel
companies and other innovators get on with it. Given the Government's stated commitment to biofuels, the prospect that
they won’t be generally available until at least 2008 is inexcusable.
"Demand for public transport is growing, and existing capacity is struggling to cope, but we continue to pour money into
new roads ahead of making a major investments in public transport. With oil prices forecast to rise strongly in the next
few years, and oil supplies on a knife edge, it is clear we do not have our priorities right."
"SEF hopes the Government's proposed National Energy Strategy will address such issues. Since it was announced in the
Speech from the Throne last December, not even the terms of reference for the development of the strategy have been
released. We urge the Government to get its National Energy Strategy plans in front of the public, but get on with the
quick wins in the meantime."
"It's time for the Government to act. There's no excuse for more foot-dragging," Tim Jones concluded.
ENDS
SEF Website: http://www.sef.org.nz