Friday, 8 October 2004
Kyoto Protocol creates problems for government energy policy
The carbon tax arising under the Kyoto Protocol may well be in conflict with the government’s policy priority to
improve the security and supply of electricity, according to United Future energy spokesperson Gordon Copeland.
“Mighty River Power has embarked on a feasibility study to retrofit the Marsden Point power station so that it can run
on coal. New Zealand has a forecast gap between supply and demand of electricity so it is vitally important the project
go ahead if at all possible.
“However the government’s carbon tax arising from the Kyoto Protocol might tip the project over the line into the
uneconomic category, thus defeating their own policy objective with regard to new electricity supply.
“Energy Minister Pete Hodgson continues to duck the issue by saying we can rely on renewables but the government’s
credibility in that regard is increasingly stretched when we see wind farm consents being turned down and the government
itself vetoing, without hearings, any possibility of new hydro schemes within the conservation estate (one third of the
area of New Zealand including most of its lakes and rivers).
“It simply doesn’t make sense,” said Mr Copeland.
ENDS