Hon Dr Nick Smith MP
National Party Climate Change Spokesman

13 September 2007

New army coal burner embarrasses carbon neutral Government

The army’s commissioning of a massive new coal-fired boiler at Waiouru makes a mockery of the Government’s commitment to a carbon neutral public service, says National’s Climate Change spokesman Nick Smith.

“The emissions from this new coal-fired boiler (34,000 tonnes/year) exceed by 100-fold the savings that the Ministry for the Environment will make by going carbon neutral (337 tonnes/year), and those of the ministerial car fleet going fuel efficient (550 tonnes/year) by 60-fold.

“This new army coal burner exposes the shallowness of the Government’s climate change policies, and clearly illustrates why New Zealand’s emissions are increasing like there is no tomorrow.”

The new $3.4 million 8MW coal-fired boiler was commissioned by the Defence Force and has just begun operating. It will provide hot water and general heating for the army’s Waiouru training camp of approximately 70 buildings. The new boiler is much larger than its predecessor and has a design life of 30 years, during which it will emit 1 million tonnes of carbon.

“We can’t expect the NZDF to be carbon neutral with their bombs and bullets, but they could have been much more environmentally friendly with their heating. The large volumes of waste wood available in the central North Island, geothermal, wind, or hydro power are all renewable alternatives.

“The burning of coal is the dirtiest form of energy and the single largest global source of greenhouse gases.

“Labour’s climate change record is disgraceful. New Zealand’s emissions from coal-generated electricity have trebled since 2000.

“This new coal-fired boiler is just adding fuel to the fire.”

ENDS

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