Wind Power News: New Zealand
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Wind farm opposition claims victory over Meridian
Meridian Energy has pulled the plug on Project Hayes, the controversial wind farm development in central Otago. The billion-dollar plan was taken to court by protesters who now seem to have won a final victory. Central Otago residents have fought for five and half years to keep the Lammermoor Range free of wind turbines. Today, their battle ended in victory. The development was strongly opposed by a group called Save Central. It included prominent Otago figures like artist Grahame Sydney, . . .
Project Hayes a lesson for wind-farm industry
Wind energy will remain at “the head of the queue” in New Zealand despite a decision to scrap a high-profile wind farm, an industry representative says. Meridian Energy said yesterday it was scrapping its controversial Project Hayes, a $2 billion proposal for a 176-turbine, 633-megawatt wind farm in Central Otago. A long court battle ensued after the plan was announced in 2006, with environmentalists, appearing in the Environment Court, blocking plans to build on the Lammermoor Range. New Zealand Wind . . .
Wind farm plan canned; Landscape saved, ‘hopeless case’ won
The unique Central Otago landscape was safe from corporate industrialisation after the withdrawal of the $2 billion Project Hayes plan, artist and objector Grahame Sydney said yesterday. Meridian Energy’s 633-megawatt plan was one of the most controversial energy projects in New Zealand and sparked an intense, hard-fought battle by environmentalists. Plans to build a wind farm in remote Central Otago were first mooted in the 1970s but the Meridian-led proposal for a 176-turbine array prompted concerted opposition. Spokesman for lobby . . .
Anti-Hayes activist backed gut feeling
An Alexandra man whose family fought Project Hayes yesterday said his gut feeling told him the energy firm knew a court would not overturn the original decision. In November 2009, Judge Jon Jackson overturned consents for the farm, saying the environmental cost would be too high. If approved, the Lammermoor Range would have been home to the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere. Environmentalist John Douglas, wife Sue and son Andrew, of Alexandra, spent tens of thousands of dollars . . .
Meridian quits energy project; Environmentalists win long-running battle
One of the most controversial energy projects in New Zealand is no more after the withdrawal today of Meridian Energy’s $2 billion Central Otago wind-farm proposal. The 176-turbine, 633-megawatt Project Hayes bid sparked a battle by environmentalists when the plan was revealed in 2006. A long court battle ensued, with environmentalists ultimately beating the company’s bid to build on the remote Lammermoor Range. Meridian chief executive Mark Binns said the company portfolio had developed considerably and there were other projects . . .
$2b wind farm proposal axed
Meridian Energy has announced its withdrawing from a proposal to build $2 billion a windfarm in Central Otago. The energy company is withdrawing its Environment Court appeal for resource consents for Project Hayes, the wind farm proposed for the Lammermoor Range in Central Otago. The Project Hayes proposal was for a 176-turbine wind farm with a capacity of 633.6 MW and Meridian was granted resource consent by the relevant local authorities in 2007. This was successfully appealed against because of . . .
Consent hearing set for wind farm plan
A public consent hearing for the proposed Flat Hill wind farm near Bluff will be held at Invercargill’s Civic Theatre on February 20. Canterbury company Energy3 proposes building an eight-turbine wind farm near Greenpoint. Director Warren McNabb said the company had changed the placement of five of the turbines in its application due to one landowner pulling out of the arrangement. “He did not want the turbine to continue on his property,” Mr McNabb said. The planned turbine would be . . .
Mt Cass wind farm appeal unlikely
Opponents of MainPower’s planned wind farm on Mt Cass are disappointed the Environment Court has given the go-ahead by approving a resource consent for the project. Members of the Mt Cass Ridge Protection Society environmental group fought against the wind farm, arguing that the ridge line east of Waipara was an outstanding natural feature of national importance with limestone outcrops and regenerating native bush harbouring many rare and endangered species. Commissioners appointed by the Hurunui District Council rejected MainPower’s original . . .
Wind farm on Mount Cass approved
The Environment Court has given resource consent for a wind farm on Mount Cass in North Canterbury. The plans were approved on Wednesday and could provide North Canterbury and Kaikoura with up to 40% of its electricity. Main Power generation manager Andrew Hurley says the wind farm will improve security of supply for the area and contribute to national goals for renewable energy. Mr Hurley says there has been some opposition, but most concerns have been addressed by noise and . . .
Wind farm company told: think again
The company behind a $1.6 billion Wairarapa wind farm bid has been asked to rethink its proposal. A resource consent hearing is being held in Masterton for Genesis Energy’s Castle Hill Wind Farm – a project which would see up to 286 wind turbines dotting north Wairarapa. On Tuesday, the three-member hearing panel issued a minute saying Genesis should have provided more evidence on the impact of the plan. Signed by chairman Philip Milne, the statement noted the panel had . . .
