Vote Energy - Estimates Debate in Committee - Dr Kennedy Graham

The energy estimates in front of us reflect, I believe, a particular mindset on the part of this Government. The highest stated priority of the Government is to build a stronger economy, which will provide jobs, higher incomes, and improved living standards.

Effect of Proposed Lignite Mining Projects on Green House Gas Emissions - Dr Kennedy Graham

Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM to the Minister of Energy and Resources: By how many tonnes would Solid Energy's proposed lignite projects in Southland increase New Zealand's gross greenhouse gas emissions in 2020?

Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Energy and Resources) : I understand that this morning Solid Energy informed the Commerce Committee that depending on the scale of technology used, gross emissions could be 10 million to 20 million tonnes per annum. I also understand that Solid Energy has said on many occasions that taking full responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions is a key consideration in its lignite developments and it expects its lignite-based plants to achieve full carbon compliance.

Solid Energy defends its lignite proposals by Claire Browning

In which Solid Energy defends its lignite proposals before a Parliamentary select committee, defines sustainability loosely, and fails to define some other things at all, except the megabucks

I sat in on Parliament's financial review of Solid Energy yesterday, and heard CEO Dr Don Elder tell the committee that his company — whoops, our company — meets New Zealand’s, and the world’s, sustainability expectations.

That’s sustainability as redefined by Solid Energy.

Southland has, said Elder, world-scale quantity and quality of lignite. On today’s prices, let alone projected future prices, it would earn trillions and squillions of dollars, with which might be bought: hip operations, teachers, rural broadband rollouts galore. A pony from Santa for every child for Christmas. That kind of thing.

I didn’t write the dollar-numbers down. I tried, but the CEO had the bit between his teeth, and he was galloping.

Greens Kennedy Graham on government Energy Strategy

Dr Kennedy Graham interviewed by TV 7 on New National Government Energy Strategy

17.2.11 - Question 9: Dr Kennedy Graham to the Minister of Energy and Resources

Southland coal would be climate disaster

Digging up the reserves of lignite in Southland can only increase global greenhouse gas emissions, said the Green Party today.

Don Elder, CEO of state-owned Solid Energy, told their annual conference yesterday that mining the low grade coal lignite would reduce global emissions.

Green Party spokesperson on energy, Dr Kennedy Graham responded that the claim was simply illogical.

"Burning coal results in greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to dangerous climate change," said Dr Graham.

Electricity Industry Bill 2nd Reading Dr Kennedy Graham

This Bill is not the first, and will almost certainly not be the last, piece of legislation that seeks to tinker with the NZ electricity sector.

The generation and transmission, distribution and retailing of electricity has become one of the jabberwockies of the NZ economy.

- The policy developments over the past 20 years reflect deeply held, if dimly perceived, points of economic ideology.
- Their structural implications have made for labyrinthine institutional relationships between entities that pretend to compete and cooperate at one and the same time, since the market signals conveyed by the sedimentary layers of legislation remain unclear on whether they are to compete or cooperate with one another.
- Their retail pricing has become a political perennial in this country, ranking as one of the most sensitive electoral issues each time round.