September 6, 2011
New Zealand

Wind farm expansion declined

Manawatu Standard, www.stuff.co.nz 6 September 2011

Mighty River Power’s eleventh-hour bid to have 12 extra wind turbines reinstated to its Turitea wind farm project has been declined.

The small, 60-turbine development falls short of the 104-turbine project Mighty River Power wanted to build.

The Board of Inquiry decision released today holds firm to the scale indicated in its draft decision in February.

The power company’s request for 12 turbines to be reinstated was declined.

The board, chaired by Environment Court Judge Shonagh Kenderdine, said it was not surprising that MRP wanted to maximise the size of the farm given the windy site, and its proximity to the national grid and centres of electricity demand.

But it did not accept MRP’s argument that its decision should be influenced by the issue of economic viability.

“Changes in the economics of the project are a matter properly for MRP, not the board.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/06/wind-farm-expansion-declined/