New Zealand rejects Contact Energy's Wind Farm Project
Contact Energy announced on Tuesday that a New Zealand regulatory agency has refused to approve its consent application for the proposed 330 Megawatt 55 Turbine Southland Wind Farm Project.
The project's resource consent was denied by an independent expert Consenting Panel, convened in accordance with the COVID-19 Recovery Act 2020 (Fast Track Consenting Act 2020) of the country.
The act provides that the Environmental Protection Authority of the country advises the panel and provides administrative support, but does not involve the panel in its decision-making processes.
Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge stated that the decision was "a significant setback" for New Zealand’s decarbonisation and Contact’s mission to improve security of electricity supply as well as its economic development.
He said that the New Zealand economy could benefit from up to 240 jobs created during construction. This would require an investment of NZ$230 ($133 million) - NZ$280 millions.
In its report, the panel acknowledged that the project could support the goal of doubling the total volume of electricity generated from renewable sources by the year 2050.
It said that it "was not satisfied" with the way in which adverse effects on the important indigenous vegetation on the Jedburgh Plateau and on the habitats of the indigenous fauna could be compensated or offset to achieve the FTCA's purpose.
You can appeal the panel's decision to the High Court in 15 working days. Fuge stated that Contact would review the decision to determine the next steps. Reporting by Aaditya Govind Rao, Bengaluru. Editing by Mrigank Dahniwala.
(source: Reuters)
