Strategy measures will be a winner with the public

Business: energy strategy measures will be a winner with the public

The Government should enjoy major public support for its bold energy and climate change measures announced today.

The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development says the Government should be congratulated on the scope and scale of measures in its New Zealand Energy Strategy.

Business Council Chief Executive Peter Neilson says moves to encourage renewable energy generation, cut transport emissions, mass insulate unhealthy homes and junk inefficient electrical appliances will enjoy strong public backing.

And combined with measures for sustainable Government procurement, putting a price on carbon emissions and introducing a levy on solid waste going to landfill, the package represents the biggest ever Government programme to preserve New Zealanders' quality of life. It will also help protect New Zealand's trading future.

Mr Neilson says research conducted by ShapeNZ for the Business Council in July shows 91% of New Zealanders support mass insulation of cold, damp and unhealthy homes – to the extent that 67% would still back this if it meant a lower personal income tax cut.

"People want the insulation programme carried out in five years for 300,000 homes. So we expect the Government's plan, using interest free loans and grants, to insulate 180,000 homes in five to eight years will be welcomed," Mr Neilson says. "When we asked New Zealanders in July if they would support a policy to introduce Government cash grants to get rid of energy inefficient home appliances, 73% said yes. The new package includes incentives to retire 450,000 old fridges over the next 20 years, so we can expect it to be received favourably," Mr Neilson says.

While measures to improve the fuel and emissions efficiency of the light vehicle fleet – the oldest and dirtiest in the world – would see cleaner vehicles enter the fleet, more should be done to retire the oldest and highest polluting vehicles.

The Business Council – and the public – believed cash grants of up to $3000 should be introduced to be paid to people newly registering fuel efficient, low emission vehicles. A fee should be paid to encourage people to scrap older cars and replace them with cleaner ones. One vehicle using 1980s technology was pumping out 40 times more health-damaging emissions than a post-2005 one meeting the latest Euro IV emissions standard.

Business would also welcome the announced moves to encourage renewable energy generation and use the Resource Management Act's call-in process more so energy developments were subjected to one thorough hearing, not several, for resources consents. The Business Council supports the call-in option being available to an objector, proposer, the local consenting authority or a Minister of the Crown.

More use should be made to set national standards, so the country didn't have to witness local authorities trying to potentially set 86 different standards when considering energy projects.

ShapeNZ research on climate change measures, some of which are included in the new strategy, is at http://www.nzbcsd.org.nz/project.asp?ProjectID=37

ENDS

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