Wind Farm Proposed For Northern Wairarapa

Wind Farm Proposed For Northern Wairarapa

Genesis Energy announced today that it will lodge a resource consent application for a wind farm in the northern Wairarapa.

The proposed Castle Hill Wind Farm site is located 20kms north-east of Masterton and 20km east of Eketahuna. Genesis Energy has signed land use agreements with 27 owners of 30,000ha, with around 4,000ha suitable for wind farm development.

The site lies across two district boundaries and two regional council boundaries: the northern section of the site lies within Horizons Regional Council and the Tararua District Council; the southern section of the site lies within the Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Masterton District Council.

Genesis Energy Chief Executive Albert Brantley said the decision to apply for resource consents for the project was a significant step forward for the company’s strategy to increase its portfolio of renewable energy.

“Genesis Energy has an objective of developing new generation that demonstrates strong sustainability performance. We have a target to consent and construct 300MW of new renewable energy generation by 2015. However, as a commercially-driven business, we will focus on any economically viable project.”

Mr Brantley said that since announcing its interest in the Castle Hill Project in February 2009, Genesis Energy has carried out extensive wind monitoring and engineering studies and has initiated environmental assessments of the project.

Wind monitoring has confirmed an attractive wind prospect with a potential generating capacity of up to 600MW. The exact number of wind turbines, their precise location and size is yet to be determined. Genesis Energy expects that if it moved to construct the wind farm, it could be built in stages over several years. The resource consent application will contain details on the turbines, site layout, construction and operation activities and a complete assessment of environmental effects and is expected to be lodged before mid 2011 following consultation with the community.

Genesis Energy will be conducting a number of open days, one-on-one conversations and meetings with representative groups during the course of the consultation programme. The consent application will take into account feedback from this community consultation on the project.

ENDS

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