Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee’s constant blundering is leaving the New Zealand biofuels industry hamstrung, Labour’s Associate Energy Spokesperson Chris Hipkins said today. Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s announcement by Gerry Brownlee that the biodiesel grants scheme will be extended to include blends of higher than 20 percent is a further admission that the National Government’s scheme is a total flop, Labour’s Associate Energy spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“When National repealed the biofuels sales obligation put in place by the last Labour government Gerry Brownlee claimed that biofuels would still play a big part in our ‘energy mix’ in the future, yet his replacement subsidy scheme has been a total disaster,” Chris Hipkins said.

“Gerry Brownlee was warned when he pushed through the repeal of the biofuel sales obligation under parliamentary urgency in late 2008 that he was pulling the rug out from under the fledgling biofuel industry. He went ahead anyway. That’s the type of approach New Zealanders have come to expect from Mr Brownlee. He’s not interested in facts or research.

“As at the end of May this year less than $200,000 of the $36 million that has been set aside for the scheme had been taken up. It’s been a total flop. Gerry Brownlee claimed the biodiesel grants scheme would create 240 jobs yet it’s quite clear that was all bluster and very few jobs have eventuated,” Chris Hipkins said.

“How can Gerry Brownlee claim that the government is serious about encouraging the uptake of biofuels when National’s flagship policy in this area has been a total failure?

“It is becoming increasingly obvious that the government’s commitment to renewable energy is a complete sham. Not only has its flagship biodiesel scheme proved to be a total flop, but the Emissions Trading Scheme has been a shambles and National has continued to vote against measures to promote renewable energy.

“With this sort of track record, how can the Ministers expect New Zealanders to have any confidence in the National Government’s commitment to renewable energy and addressing the challenge of climate change?” Chris Hipkins said.

Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee remains unable to present a strong business case for the multi-million dollar asset swaps he is forcing on SOEs Meridian and Genesis, Labour’s Energy spokespeople Nanaia Mahuta and Chris Hipkins said today. Read the rest of this entry »

The Labour Party has welcomed news that the Government intends to join the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) but remains sceptical about its commitment to increasing the share of New Zealand’s energy that comes from renewable sources.

“In New Zealand we’re fortunate that the majority of our electricity generation already comes from renewable sources, but the trend in recent years has been for a greater proportion to come from non-renewable sources such as gas and coal,” Labour’s energy spokesperson Charles Chauvel said.

“It’s hard to reconcile the Government’s stated commitment to renewable energy with their desire to mine minerals in our national parks.

“Gerry Brownlee thinks coal is ’sexy’, so I’m not sure how he reconciles that with National’s supposed commitment to renewable energy. I hope joining this group is a serious move and not just gesture politics by this government.

Labour’s Associate Energy Spokesperson Chris Hipkins says his Electricity (Renewable Preference) Amendment Bill provides the perfect opportunity for the National Government to demonstrate it means what it says.

“One of National’s first decisions upon becoming government was to reverse the legislative preference for new electricity to come from renewable sources that the last Labour government put in place,” Chris Hipkins said.

“My Bill reinstates that renewable preference and if the National Government is genuinely committed to renewable energy, I look forward to them supporting my Bill to select committee.

“New Zealand can lead from the front on renewable energy and gain economic and environment benefit. The Government’s commitment to joining the International Renewable Energy Agency is a step in the right direction, now it needs to be backed up with real action,” Charles Chauvel and Chris Hipkins said.

Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins is delighted the Electricity (Renewable Preference) Amendment Bill has been drawn from the ballot and will now be debated in Parliament. The Bill would prevent the construction of further non-renewable electricity generation, except where essential for security of electricity supply.

“New Zealand is fortunate that a large proportion of our electricity generation comes from renewable sources such as wind and hydro. We have so many opportunities to develop further renewable electricity generation that there really is no excuse to keep relying on fossil fuels that aren’t renewable and are bad for the environment,” Chris Hipkins says.

“By firmly establishing our commitment to renewable electricity generation we will not only be doing the right thing by the environment, we’ll also be enhancing our international reputation as a clean, green country and living up to the international commitments we have made to address the challenge of climate change.

“At a time when our international reputation as a clean green nation is being questioned, the First Reading of my Bill will provide all parties in Parliament with the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to tackling the challenge of climate change in a meaningful way. We have to live up to our reputation – it’s too valuable to lose.

“Renewable energy is the way of the future. In the medium to longer term, as the price of fossil fuels continues to rise, it will be cheaper and it will also be more secure. I hope that the reinstatement of a restriction on new thermal generation will be the first of a series of steps New Zealand takes to promote greater use of renewable energy and enhanced energy efficiency.

“Over the past two decades the majority of our growth in demand for electricity has been met by the development of non-renewable electricity generation. That’s just not sustainable.

“I challenge all parties in Parliament to do the right thing by the environment and by future generations and support this Bill at First Reading so that it can go to a Select Committee and all the evidence can be heard,” Chris Hipkins said.

Labour backs comments by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that a smart electricity grid and smart electricity meters are just as important in the twenty-first century as core infrastructure such as roads and broadband, Labour’s Associate Energy spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. Read the rest of this entry »

Labour says the Government urgently needs to fix the ‘Warm Up NZ’ Scheme, before New Zealanders lose confidence in it. Otago University researchers say the standard insulation upgrade is warming some homes in the deep south by less than half a degree, and that the scheme’s “one size fits all” approach is inadequate. Read the rest of this entry »

National’s poorly designed subsidies for home heating and insulation companies are putting people out of work, Labour’s Associate Energy spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. Read the rest of this entry »

Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee’s ordered removal of a blog criticising his proposed power sector reforms is further evidence he is struggling in his portfolios, Labour’s associate energy spokesman Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »

Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee’s plan to introduce more competition in the electricity sector does nothing to reduce power bills for New Zealanders struggling to make ends meet, Labour’s Associate Energy spokesperson Chris Hipkins said today. Read the rest of this entry »