Renewable Energy Future For NZ
As the colder winter weather settles in, the Government has this week announced a plan to avoid future energy crises but
it leaves the door wide open for more polluting fossil fuels that contribute to global warming and climate change.
New Zealand is at an energy crossroads. We are faced with several challenges. We need to use less energy and to look at
how to produce enough energy in a way that is not environmentally destructive.
As the Government grapples with these issues and the fossil fuel industry try to peddle their outdated polluting
solutions, we have released the Greenpeace vision of a renewable energy future for New Zealand.
Take action : http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/action/climate/wind.asp
Greenpeace has outlined the need for a long-term energy strategy for New Zealand based on 100% renewable energy supply,
and a detailed paper outlining how the Government can bring wind and renewable projects to the forefront of the energy
mix.
Wind can offer a secure, efficient and environmentally sound source of energy like no other and New Zealand has one of
the best and most under utilised wind resources in the world. We have enough potential wind energy to produce three
times our present power generation each year.
New Zealand has been described as the 'Saudi Arabia of wind'. We already have three sites with large wind turbines
(Tararua, Wairarapa and Wellington). The first entirely New Zealand made and designed large wind turbine, has recently
been installed by Windflow Ltd. on Banks Peninsula. We now need to encourage the Government to make choices that will
lead to the generation of clean renewable energy rather than making panic decisions in response to the current crisis
that will entrench the polluting old fossil fuel based power industry.
New Zealand signed the Kyoto protocol as an important first step to putting the brakes on global warming. The New
Zealand Government should now show its continued commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by leading the world
towards renewable energy solutions like wind.
Now is the chance!
We have set up a form on our website for you to quickly send an urgent message asking Prime Minister Helen Clark and the
Minister for Energy Pete Hodgson to back wind and not fossil fuels.
Please click here: http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/action/climate/wind.asp
And please forward this message to anyone you know who might be interested.
There is some background information available at: http://www.greenpeace.org.nz/campaigns/climate/solutions.asp
Thank you for your support,
Nick Young
Web Manager Greenpeace NZ http://www.greenpeace.org.nz