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The place for NZ oriented news releases on climate change and related energy policy.
STUFF : NATIONAL NEWS : ENVIRONMENT - STORY : New Zealand's leading news and information website: "Aqua opponents called on to fight Wairau scheme
25 June 2004
Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons is calling on those who opposed Project Aqua in Otago to mobilise behind a campaign against another power scheme ? this time on the Wairau River in Marlborough.
Trustpower plans to build a hydro-electricity scheme in the Wairau Valley to supply electricity to Marlborough.
TrustPower says the $240 million project, which would generate up to 70.5 megawatts of electricity, remains 'on track' and it expects to file for resource consents some time next month.
It had hoped to notify its consent application this month but generation development manager Judith Magyari said the company wanted a 'certain level of support' before it did so. "
25 June 2004
Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons is calling on those who opposed Project Aqua in Otago to mobilise behind a campaign against another power scheme ? this time on the Wairau River in Marlborough.
Trustpower plans to build a hydro-electricity scheme in the Wairau Valley to supply electricity to Marlborough.
TrustPower says the $240 million project, which would generate up to 70.5 megawatts of electricity, remains 'on track' and it expects to file for resource consents some time next month.
It had hoped to notify its consent application this month but generation development manager Judith Magyari said the company wanted a 'certain level of support' before it did so. "
Aus state move to carbon trading
Energy ministers from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania pledged on 26 June in Sydney that they would speed up the development of an emissions trading scheme in response to a Commonwealth Government energy White Paper.
They also said they would treat the Federal Government’s renewable energy target as a bare minimum in setting up their own targets. They would set up a working group to develop their climate strategy.
The move by the State ministers mirrors the situation in the US, where states are setting the climate change agenda in what they see as a vacuum of leadership from the Federal Government. Canberra said it would meet its Kyoto target without ratifying the protocol.
Energy ministers from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania pledged on 26 June in Sydney that they would speed up the development of an emissions trading scheme in response to a Commonwealth Government energy White Paper.
They also said they would treat the Federal Government’s renewable energy target as a bare minimum in setting up their own targets. They would set up a working group to develop their climate strategy.
The move by the State ministers mirrors the situation in the US, where states are setting the climate change agenda in what they see as a vacuum of leadership from the Federal Government. Canberra said it would meet its Kyoto target without ratifying the protocol.
Objections slow hydro plans for Wairau River
Difficulties securing agreements from landowners have slowed TrustPower's plans to build a hydro-electricity scheme in the Wairau Valley to supply electricity to Marlborough.
And disquiet among some environmental groups about its effects on the Wairau River has stepped up a notch with the formation of a Save the Wairau Committee.
TrustPower says the $240 million project, which would generate up to 70.5 megawatts of electricity, remains 'on track' and it expects to file for resource consents some time in July.
It had hoped to notify its consent application this month, but generation development manager Judith Magyari said the company wanted a 'certain level of support' before it did so. "
Difficulties securing agreements from landowners have slowed TrustPower's plans to build a hydro-electricity scheme in the Wairau Valley to supply electricity to Marlborough.
And disquiet among some environmental groups about its effects on the Wairau River has stepped up a notch with the formation of a Save the Wairau Committee.
TrustPower says the $240 million project, which would generate up to 70.5 megawatts of electricity, remains 'on track' and it expects to file for resource consents some time in July.
It had hoped to notify its consent application this month, but generation development manager Judith Magyari said the company wanted a 'certain level of support' before it did so. "
Keep doors open on hydro power says IPENZ
New Zealand can't keep closing the door on renewable energy options such as hydro power, said John Gardiner, the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) Deputy Chief Executive.
Mr Gardiner said this in response to the Environment Court's recent decision to reduce the water rights that underpin the Tongariro Hydro Power Scheme, and similar instances where obtaining water allocations and consents are becoming difficult.
Every time the Resource Management Act makes it difficult for hydro schemes to become established, New Zealanders are left with fewer desirable alternatives for their energy future. If we don't fill our energy needs from renewable sources we become reliant on non-renewables, particularly carbon based fuels, he said."
New Zealand can't keep closing the door on renewable energy options such as hydro power, said John Gardiner, the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) Deputy Chief Executive.
Mr Gardiner said this in response to the Environment Court's recent decision to reduce the water rights that underpin the Tongariro Hydro Power Scheme, and similar instances where obtaining water allocations and consents are becoming difficult.
Every time the Resource Management Act makes it difficult for hydro schemes to become established, New Zealanders are left with fewer desirable alternatives for their energy future. If we don't fill our energy needs from renewable sources we become reliant on non-renewables, particularly carbon based fuels, he said."
Oldest Antarctic ice core reveals climate history
Secrets of the Earth's past climate locked in a three-kilometre long Antarctic ice core are revealed this week in the journal Nature. The core from Dome C, high on East Antarctica's plateau, contains snowfall from the last 740,000 years and is by far the oldest continuous climate record obtained from ice cores so far.
The ice has been collected in an eight year project by scientists and engineers from 10 European countries. Analysis of ice cores shows how temperature changed in the past, but also how the concentrations of gases and particles in the atmosphere varied.
The first results confirm that over the last 740,000 years the Earth experienced eight ice ages, when Earth's climate was much colder than today, and eight warmer periods (interglacials). In the last 400,000 years the warm periods have had a temperature similar to that of today. Before that time they were less warm, but lasted longer. "
Secrets of the Earth's past climate locked in a three-kilometre long Antarctic ice core are revealed this week in the journal Nature. The core from Dome C, high on East Antarctica's plateau, contains snowfall from the last 740,000 years and is by far the oldest continuous climate record obtained from ice cores so far.
The ice has been collected in an eight year project by scientists and engineers from 10 European countries. Analysis of ice cores shows how temperature changed in the past, but also how the concentrations of gases and particles in the atmosphere varied.
The first results confirm that over the last 740,000 years the Earth experienced eight ice ages, when Earth's climate was much colder than today, and eight warmer periods (interglacials). In the last 400,000 years the warm periods have had a temperature similar to that of today. Before that time they were less warm, but lasted longer. "
Waste-to-energy team conquering Asia
Environmental innovation by a New Zealand biotech research company is offering a solution to agricultural industries facing high costs for wastewater treatment.
Waste Solutions has developed a covered in-ground anaerobic reactor (Cigar) for the conversion of high-fat waste to useable energy.
The Cigar system is a lagoon covered by plastic that allows biogas to collect before being removed by a compressor and piped to gas burners and electricity generators.
Cigar technology is effective for treating organic waste that contains high levels of solids, proteins and fat from food and beverage production. "
Environmental innovation by a New Zealand biotech research company is offering a solution to agricultural industries facing high costs for wastewater treatment.
Waste Solutions has developed a covered in-ground anaerobic reactor (Cigar) for the conversion of high-fat waste to useable energy.
The Cigar system is a lagoon covered by plastic that allows biogas to collect before being removed by a compressor and piped to gas burners and electricity generators.
Cigar technology is effective for treating organic waste that contains high levels of solids, proteins and fat from food and beverage production. "
Russia to ratify Kyoto in December: UNEP
Russia will formally announce its ratification of the Kyoto Protocol during the UNFCCC summit in Buenos Aires in December, UNEP chief Klaus Topfer has said.
According to Pravda, Topfer's statement came during a meeting with Gines Gonzalez Garcia, Argentina's Minister of Health. Argentina will be hosting the tenth Conference of the Parties (COP-10) to the UNFCCC in December.
This is the second time in a week Topfer has said that Russia will ratify. Following President Putin's statements on how Russia would speed up the ratification process a few weeks back, international confidence that Russia will proceed to ratify has grown. However, no one has been willing to estimate Russia's timing of ratification until now.
Russia?Ds ratification will be enough to make the Kyoto Protocol come into force."
Russia will formally announce its ratification of the Kyoto Protocol during the UNFCCC summit in Buenos Aires in December, UNEP chief Klaus Topfer has said.
According to Pravda, Topfer's statement came during a meeting with Gines Gonzalez Garcia, Argentina's Minister of Health. Argentina will be hosting the tenth Conference of the Parties (COP-10) to the UNFCCC in December.
This is the second time in a week Topfer has said that Russia will ratify. Following President Putin's statements on how Russia would speed up the ratification process a few weeks back, international confidence that Russia will proceed to ratify has grown. However, no one has been willing to estimate Russia's timing of ratification until now.
Russia?Ds ratification will be enough to make the Kyoto Protocol come into force."
Howard woos green vote
But yesterday conservative Prime Minister John Howard, pitching for the green vote ahead of an election expected within months, released a long-awaited energy blueprint, trying to protect the nation's valuable energy sector while promoting low-emission technologies.
"We are taking action to address greenhouse emissions and climate change, but we are determined to do it the smart way, a way that does not threaten our energy advantage and national prosperity," Howard said in a speech to the National Press Club.
Measures include:
* Establishing a A$500 million fund to leverage private sector investment of A$1 billion to demonstrate low emission technologies ranging from renewable energies to more conventional fuel sources.
* A$134 million to help commercialise renewable technologies.
* A$75 million for a Solar Cities trial to help urban households install solar energy systems for water and electricity.
* Overhaul the fuel excise system to reduce excise costs on businesses and households by A$1.5 billion in the period to 2012/13.
* Require the nation's largest energy users to undertake regular energy efficiency assessments.
* Require large energy projects and recipients of more than A$3 million in excise credits to manage emissions through membership of a greenhouse challenge programme.
But yesterday conservative Prime Minister John Howard, pitching for the green vote ahead of an election expected within months, released a long-awaited energy blueprint, trying to protect the nation's valuable energy sector while promoting low-emission technologies.
"We are taking action to address greenhouse emissions and climate change, but we are determined to do it the smart way, a way that does not threaten our energy advantage and national prosperity," Howard said in a speech to the National Press Club.
Measures include:
* Establishing a A$500 million fund to leverage private sector investment of A$1 billion to demonstrate low emission technologies ranging from renewable energies to more conventional fuel sources.
* A$134 million to help commercialise renewable technologies.
* A$75 million for a Solar Cities trial to help urban households install solar energy systems for water and electricity.
* Overhaul the fuel excise system to reduce excise costs on businesses and households by A$1.5 billion in the period to 2012/13.
* Require the nation's largest energy users to undertake regular energy efficiency assessments.
* Require large energy projects and recipients of more than A$3 million in excise credits to manage emissions through membership of a greenhouse challenge programme.
Contact strikes deal for supply of remaining Maui gas
Energy generator and retailer Contact Energy Ltd today said it had reached an agreement for the future delivery of remaining reserves of gas from the Maui field.
Energy generator and retailer Contact Energy Ltd today said it had reached an agreement for the future delivery of remaining reserves of gas from the Maui field.
Breakthrough Deal Extends Life of Maui Gas Field
Shell New Zealand today announced a breakthrough deal, which will help to ensure maximum recovery of gas from the Maui gas field. The announcement comes two days after the Maui field celebrated a quarter century of operation.
The Maui gas contract has been renegotiated to provide further incentives to develop remaining gas reserves in the Maui gas field. In return for guaranteeing 367PJs of gas at the existing Maui gas contract price, the Maui Joint Venture will be able to sell any additional volumes of gas at a market price. Of the additional volumes, 40PJ of gas will be reserved for Methanex."
Shell New Zealand today announced a breakthrough deal, which will help to ensure maximum recovery of gas from the Maui gas field. The announcement comes two days after the Maui field celebrated a quarter century of operation.
The Maui gas contract has been renegotiated to provide further incentives to develop remaining gas reserves in the Maui gas field. In return for guaranteeing 367PJs of gas at the existing Maui gas contract price, the Maui Joint Venture will be able to sell any additional volumes of gas at a market price. Of the additional volumes, 40PJ of gas will be reserved for Methanex."
Nuclear power 'too big' for NZ
The head of the Government-appointed Electricity Commission, Roy Hemmingway, says New Zealand is too small for nuclear power.
Mr Hemmingway, an American who chaired Oregon's Public Utility Commission before coming to New Zealand last year, told a Royal Society forum in Auckland that nuclear power plants were okay for the US but 'way too big' for New Zealand.
The head of the Government-appointed Electricity Commission, Roy Hemmingway, says New Zealand is too small for nuclear power.
Mr Hemmingway, an American who chaired Oregon's Public Utility Commission before coming to New Zealand last year, told a Royal Society forum in Auckland that nuclear power plants were okay for the US but 'way too big' for New Zealand.
