Genesis Energy seeks clarification on greenhouse gas emissions
Contrary to a media release from Greenpeace, Genesis Energy is not seeking to "remove the only legal control on
polluters' greenhouse gas emissions."
In fact, Genesis Energy is seeking to clarify a legal ruling which took most by surprise in reversing an amendment to
the RMA which was designed to remove greenhouse gas issues from the individual consent process to the national level.
In October 2006 Genesis Energy was surprised along with councils and other businesses when the High Court ruled in
favour of Greenpeace and said that climate change does need to be considered in regard to the benefits of renewable
energy. Since the passage of the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Act 2004, Genesis Energy and
many others understood greenhouse gas emissions would not be considered on individual resource consent applications nor
during plan changes. That was the driving motivation behind that change to the RMA
Genesis Energy accepts central government's direction that climate change and greenhouse gas emissions from the energy
sector is being addressed at a national policy level and accepts there will be some form of cap on emissions which will
impact its Huntly Power Station and other thermal generation plants and projects.
With a resource consent application forthcoming for its proposed Rodney Power Station and re-consenting for Huntly Power
Station just a few years away, Genesis Energy is keen to have clarity on whether the RMA does in fact bring national
climate change issues down to individual resource consent processes.
Genesis Energy is making no criticism of the legal process or the outcome. It simply seeks clarity and certainty for its
business and for others that are required to consent existing or new greenhouse gas emitting facilities.
ENDS