PRESS RELEASE

Coal Action Network today said it was appalled at today’s announced deal between gentailers to stockpile 600,000 tonnes of dirty coal as a backup for low lake levels.

“The solutions to our electricity problem lie in a complex set of actions that are clearly too difficult for our generators and government to get their heads around, so they just go for the blunt instrument of a massive coal stockpile,” said Cindy Baxter of Coal Action Network Aotearoa.

Will this be the end of the Huntly coal-fired power station?

“That’s 600,000 tonnes of climate change they’re stockpiling: 600,000 tonnes of floods, marine heatwaves, droughts and wildfires; 600,000 tonnes of stupidity.”

“The solutions lie in energy efficiency, well-insulated houses, more grid-scale renewable generation and storage, rooftop solar with feed-in tariffs and distributed energy: our electricity system needs a massive overhaul to get us through this, but the government simply isn’t interested, just as it isn’t interested in addressing greenhouse gas emissions.”

Genesis has been making vague claims about using biomass at Huntly, but until they release details of their plans, this looks suspiciously like greenwash. “Genesis claim to be serious about using wood pellets in their Rankine boiler,” said Baxter. 

“In that case, show New Zealanders the plans. Tell us when you’re going to be doing more than running trials using imported biomass. And tell us where the wood is coming from – will it be local wood waste, or are you planning on cutting down forests overseas?”

The announcement today could also support yet another Bathurst Resources fast-track application – to extend its Rotowaro mine near Huntly.

“Let’s be clear here: coal is coal and it will all end up in the sky, whether it comes from Indonesia or Huntly.  The International Energy Agency has said we need to be out of coal in electricity generation by 2030, but of course New Zealand is going in the opposite direction.”