10. Hon PAUL SWAIN (Labour—Rimutaka) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy
What reports has he received on plans for construction of renewable energy projects?
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of Energy) Link to this
The Labour-led Government has set a clear direction for 90 percent of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025. Industry is responding with new generation projects due to come on stream over the next 4 years totalling 1,400 megawatts, worth between $3.5 billion and $4 billion. More than half of that is baseload geothermal generation and nearly all of it is renewable. Industry, and New Zealand generally, is right behind this. The only group opposing it is National.
I have seen reports that a number of groups in the Rodney district have asked to meet a local MP to discuss their concerns about a large fossil fuel plant in their area. According to the residents, that MP has repeatedly refused to meet, saying that his electoral diary is “fully booked until after the election”. Mr John Key found time to meet the Waikato lobbyists, but he will not front up to the residents in his own electorate who are opposed to more fossil-fuelled electricity. New Zealanders overwhelmingly support clean, green renewable energy, but National opposes the emissions trading scheme, biofuels, and renewable preference legislation. As always, actions speak louder than words, and this latest refusal by Mr Key to meet people in his own electorate again shows that he, along with Mr Brownlee and National, has no real commitment to renewable electricity.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I seek leave to table the official Ministry of Energy data showing that 75 percent of new generation built under Labour has been thermal.
Madam SPEAKER