Too many objections, too few good ideas

New Zealanders must stop just opposing everything and start "counting in" some options for future energy supplies, says Meridian Energy chief Keith Turner.

Speaking at an energy summit in Auckland yesterday, Dr Turner said it was easy to oppose single components of the energy system by arguing that it could be fixed elsewhere.

Dr Turner is a strong supporter of the plan by national grid owner and operator Transpower to build a $500 million high-voltage power line through the Waikato.

Transpower says the line is needed by 2010 to avoid power blackouts in Auckland. The line is being fiercely opposed by Waikato and South Auckland landowners.

Dr Turner said: "The fact of life is that there are no alternatives to transmission lines that are economic or can deliver electricity at the cost that the consumer currently enjoys."

Things were bad enough when Auckland's central business district had a failure of power supply in 1998, he said. There would be "chaos" if power failed for the whole city.

"It's time we made some decisions."

New Energy Minister Trevor Mallard, in his first major speech to the sector, appeared to lend Transpower support for its plans by telling the conference that transmission infrastructure "must be upgraded if we are able to meet ongoing security-of-supply objectives".

The network had been run down and there was "a need to bite the bullet on the need for serious upgrades".

Without specifying the Waikato transmission link or the controversial Marsden B coal station by name, Mr Mallard said he was "not either supporting or not supporting" two "high-profile" proposals. There was a proper process for these to be considered, and it would be inappropriate to comment.

A lack of readily available technology to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from coal stations was cited by state-owned company Genesis yesterday as the basis for putting on hold its plans for two new coal stations in the Waikato.

No actual sites had been selected for the stations, but a company spokesman said the plans were more than just an idea, with planning well under way.

A coal-burning power station emits nearly three times as much CO2 as a new gas-fired power station, such as that currently being built by Genesis at its Huntly site.

The existing Huntly power station is now running almost entirely on coal, as gas from the Maui gas field is no longer available in large quantities.

Power slowdown

* Plans for a transmission line through the Waikato opposed.

* Generation plans for Marsden B coal station opposed.

* Resource consent refused for Awhitu Peninsula wind farm.

* Project Aqua hydro scheme on Waitaki River cancelled.