Heyo, I recieved this and thus I am just passing it on if anyone is keen to find out what the government is up to or wants to make a submission on it.
Terra :)
Release of the Draft New Zealand Energy Strategy
and Draft New Zealand
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy for
public consultation
The Minister of Energy and
Resources has released the Draft New Zealand Energy
Strategy and Draft New Zealand Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Strategy for public consultation. Minister Brownlee’s media
release is below.
The two drafts are presented together in one
document. They are available through the
Ministry of Economic Development’s website in both html and PDF formats
at www.med.govt.nz/energystrategy
.
We encourage everyone interested in New Zealand’s
energy future to provide feedback on the drafts. Details of how to
submit are on the website and in the document. Submissions
must be received by 5pm, Thursday 2
September 2010.
We encourage you to forward this message to your
networks. I apologise
for any cross-postings.
Lisa McDonald
Lisa McDonald
Ministry of Economic Development
DD 04 474 2975
Hon Gerry Brownlee
Minister of Energy and Resources
|
|
22 July 2010
|
Media
Statement
|
Government consulting on energy policy
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee today released
a Draft New Zealand Energy Strategy (NZES)
and Draft New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NZEECS) for
public consultation.
The strategies have been updated to align with current
government energy policy priorities and to reflect a stronger focus on economic
development.
“The NZES sets the strategic direction for the energy
sector and the role energy will play in the New Zealand economy. The
government’s vision is for the energy sector to maximise its contribution
to the economy,” Mr Brownlee said.
The NZEECS is a companion strategy, specifically focusing on
the promotion of energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy.
The Draft NZES proposes four priority areas for energy
policy:
·
development of the full range of New Zealand’s
energy resources
·
ensuring secure and affordable
energy
·
efficient use of energy
·
environmental responsibility
“New
Zealand is a fortunate country, with an
abundance of renewable, petroleum and mineral resources that will play an
important role in securing a better future for New Zealanders.
“The government proposes to reaffirm the target that
90 per cent of electricity generation be from renewable energy sources by 2025,
providing this does not affect security of supply.
“The economics of electricity generation in New Zealand
supports investment in renewable electricity generation, with some generation
from non-renewable sources for the foreseeable future to ensure security of
supply.
“Improving energy security and energy affordability
are key concerns on which Cabinet has already acted following the Ministerial
Review of Electricity Market Performance.
“In my view, these issues were not accorded a
sufficiently strong priority in the 2007 NZES. If New Zealand is to make the step
change needed to improve economic performance, we must be able to ensure that
the electricity and fuel needs of a growing society can be and are met.
“Energy conservation and efficiency have an important
role to play in economic growth. Improving energy efficiency enhances
productivity, improves energy security, reduces consumer energy bills, as well
as having other benefits such as improving the health and wellbeing of
households.
“The draft NZEECS focuses on how New Zealand can leverage energy
efficiency initiatives to improve the performance of the economy and achieve
these other benefits.
“In the draft NZEECS the government also proposes an
ambitious but achievable economy-wide target of 55 petajoules of energy savings
through energy efficiency improvements by 2015.
“We are aiming to lift our rate of improvement in
energy efficiency savings to close to the OECD average, which is as ambitious
as the projected energy savings from the 2007 strategy.
“Environmentally responsible development and use of
energy is also a key priority for this government. New Zealand has an enviable
reputation internationally and as a country we should strive for best
environmental practice to maintain our good environmental record
internationally.
“Continuing to integrate responsible environmental
management, for example through an improved resource management framework, into
the development and efficient use of energy resources is essential to New Zealand’s
long-term economic competitiveness,” Mr Brownlee said.
Feedback on the draft strategies closes at 5.00pm on Thursday, 2 September 2010
The draft strategies and information on the submissions
process is available at www.med.govt.nz/energystrategy
Media contact: Nick Bryant on 04 817 8273 or
021 245 8272
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