Make up your minds, Meridian Energy warns

It's time for New Zealanders to decide what electricity projects they want to go ahead, rather than shooting down the options, says Meridian Energy chief executive Keith Turner.

Dr Turner told an electricity summit in Auckland today that people cannot continue to rule out major power generation and transmission developments.

In the last year alone the country has ruled out several major hydro developments, including Meridian's own Project Aqua, and a windfarm near Auckland, he said.
Plans for a major upgrade of the national grid and for a coal-fired power station in Northland have resulted in a strong reaction from some in the community.

"We take electricity for granted but if we run out, that will have dire consequences for all."

"At the same time as we're ruling these options out, our demand for electricity continues to rise. There is only one way that can end if we let it continue.

"We can't keep ruling things out, so my message to all New Zealanders is that it's time to start ruling some things in."

Dr Turner said the first choice the country should make is to use renewable fuels such as hydro and wind.

Because the country has reliable resources of wind and water, renewable electricity offers the best option for a secure power supply into the future, for a reasonable price, and the lowest environmental cost.

"But it is only with a strong and reliable national grid that we can get the best out of our resources so that the country can enjoy the security of electricity supply that our society and economy needs."

Everybody knew what had to be done to ensure future electricity supplies and now was the time for the country to pull together to make sure it happened, Dr Turner told the summit.

- NZPA