Government throws its weight behind wind farms

**degrom** · 11th December 2006, 09:58

The Government is set to unveil measures making it easier to build wind farms and less attractive to build new fossil-fuelled electricity plants in its draft national energy strategy today.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/st...414796&ref=rss

**degrom** · 11th December 2006, 09:59

Originally Posted by degrom

The Government is set to unveil measures making it easier to build wind farms and less attractive to build new fossil-fuelled electricity plants in its draft national energy strategy today.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/st...414796&ref=rss

Promoting wind farms is the first step in making us a great example for the rest of the world to follow in out footsteps.

I am also glad that the government announced the laws on car emissions that will force old cars that smoke a lot to be fixed or taken of the road.

Would be nice if they promoted bikes a bit more. Things like cheaper yearly registration fees on bikes would be a great start!!!

**bugjuice** · 11th December 2006, 10:02

what are they going to do? Stand in front of the windmills, spouting off their promises for the next election?

**Colapop** · 11th December 2006, 10:06

Wind farms are great and wonderful but the reality is that they are not going to produce enough electricity to effectively ease the current or future predicted energy shortages. Don't get me wrong - I like wind farms. Unfortunately there just aren't the number of sites around NZ that we'll need to construct the large scale wind farm projects that would be needed.

The government would be better to support photovoltaic energy converters on every household in NZ with community based voltage converter and storage facilities.

There is also Geothermal which is grossly underutilised but that is changing.

**Pixie** · 11th December 2006, 10:13

Originally Posted by degrom

Promoting wind farms is the first step in making us a great example for the rest of the world to follow in out footsteps.

Nationalistic bullshit!

Windfarms have been around in Europe and America for decades.And having found that even on grids that cover vast regions,where wind fluctuations balance out,wind power has major deficiencies,they are now decomissioning wind farms and looking to the only power source that will save the planet - nuclear power

**degrom** · 11th December 2006, 10:18

Originally Posted by Pixie

Nationalistic bullshit!

Windfarms have been around in Europe and America for decades.And having found that even on grids that cover vast regions,where wind fluctuations balance out,wind power has major deficiencies,they are now decomissioning wind farms and looking to the only power source that will save the planet - nuclear power

So when are NZ putting up their first nuclear power plant?

**ManDownUnder** · 11th December 2006, 10:25

I maintain... we need to focus on using what we have more efficiently, before building new plant.

Solar hot water heating retrofitted to housing would be a good, and simple start. Drop consumption of energy, and the need to build new plant falls too.

Why is this so hard for people to get their head around?

**degrom** · 11th December 2006, 10:26

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

I maintain... we need to focus on using what we have more efficiently, before building new plant.

Solar hot water heating retrofitted to housing would be a good, and simple start. Drop consumption of energy, and the need to build new plant falls too.

Why is this so hard for people to get their head around?

Because they are use to wasting energy and old habits die hard!!!

**Pixie** · 11th December 2006, 10:39

Originally Posted by degrom

So when are NZ putting up their first nuclear power plant?

Not for the forseeable future,while hippies run the country

168 nuclear reactors are expected to start up by 2020
most in asia, "our" region
New Scientist - 16/9/2006

**degrom** · 11th December 2006, 10:42

I think the only way to make people use less energy is to take it away from them...

Just look at how well people managed to survive in times of depression before and after the world war's.(That also the time when people were forced to be more innovative)

Less energy might mean less food and less o-beast children!!!

**LilSel** · 11th December 2006, 10:44

Originally Posted by Colapop

There is also Geothermal which is grossly underutilised but that is changing.

It most certainly is...
http://www.mightyriverpower.co.nz/

Have a look at the first article there regarding Geothermal

$275 Million $$ Geothermal power plant...

**Colapop** · 11th December 2006, 10:48

I could tell you about a projected 10 geothermal power plants proposed... But then I'd have to kill you

**LilSel** · 11th December 2006, 10:53

Also... Windfarms are bad for people living within a proximity to them... Causing health problems...
The low frequency noise they emit travels for miles (air AND vibration thru the ground) and people within a couple of miles end up suffering from a range of symptoms from headaches, migraines, nausea, dizziness, palpitations and tinnitus to sleep disturbance, stress, anxiety and depression.

Soooo.... Wind Farms may sound nice n healthy n clean etc... but dont you think there is enough problems already in NZ??

Stressed.... depressed... anxious... sleep deprived people with migraines doesnt sound very appealing IMO...

**LilSel** · 11th December 2006, 10:55

Originally Posted by Colapop

I could tell you about a projected 10 geothermal power plants proposed... But then I'd have to kill you

I could tell you a lot too

... But your right... then I'd have to kill you

**Switch** · 11th December 2006, 11:00

I think wind farms are a great idea, but then again, i also think the new fusion power plants will be impressive...but like Pixie said, not while the hippies are running around.