The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
Bernard Hickey laments the LNG decision, asks a question we've been asking, and speaks with energy analyst Larry Blair.
The decision didn’t include the option of using that $2.7 billion up-front to pay for grid-scale, residential and commercial solar panel and battery capacity that would allow the lakes to remain full in a dry year. That amount would buy the equivalent of 2 Gigawatts worth of generation and storage, which is the equivalent of about four Benmore Dams worth and enough to power 2.5 million households for a year.
Instead, the LNG terminal may never be used but will have to be paid for annually, and the benefits in the counterfactual put forward by the Government in its fact sheet are dependent on lower wholesale prices (than would otherwise be the case) being passed on by gentailers to consumers.
Mike Casey said the Government couldn’t create cheap electricity with expensive fuel.“The Government is basically forcing New Zealanders to invest in an LNG terminal and hoping prices might go down eventually. You cannot make cheap electricity with expensive fuels and LNG is one of the most expensive fuels there is. We don’t like burning Indonesian coal. So why replace it with expensive Australian gas? This decision just locks us into another expensive overseas dependency.” Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey via a statement
'Twas the night before Chris-mas, and all through the house, all the voters were stirring, the pundits showing their nous … the election will soon be over, but the energy crisis won't, so we'll be there to pester whoever is in power about the need to run more of the economy on New Zealand-made energy; can Ethiopia's aggressive push for EVs work and how does New Zealand compare in terms of adoption rates?; a two-way charging trial from Genesis shows promise in Auckland, but there's still a way to go before it's mainstream; small electric vehicles are often overlooked when it comes to electrifying transport, but it's hard to miss this weird French one; a solar-powered cafe (and some electric coffee); and we endorse the political vandalism of Keith of All Trades.
Read moreDownloadPoliticians are being urged to adopt stronger electric vehicle incentives ahead of the election. Climate and energy advocacy group Rewiring Aotearoa is arguing that EVs are one of the most effective long-term solutions for rising transport and energy costs. They're promoting an EV Salary Boost proposal, which would allow workers to access EVs through pre-tax salary arrangements – similarly to already existing schemes in the UK and Australia. Policy and Government Relations Spokesperson Ngaio Neumegen told Kerre Woodham that even with the rising cost of power, it's still cheaper to run an EV than a car running on imported fuel.
A proposal that would let New Zealanders lease an electric car using their before-tax pay has not won a commitment from either National or Labour, with the 7 November election days away. Under the EV Salary Boost, put forward by Rewiring Aotearoa and Drive Electric, an employee would lease a new or used EV for three to five years. The payments would come out of their pay before tax, lowering the cost of running the car. The idea is based on Australia’s novated leasing system, though the groups say they are not proposing a direct copy.
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