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Crux talks to Mike Casey about the launch of Rewiring Aotearoa's ambitious new Queenstown Electrification Accelerator project. "The vision is big. To make Queenstown the global capital of total electrification - buses, cars, hotels, our airport, houses - and yes, even gondolas. For the region to become the world’s most electrified destination."
As Peter Newport wrote in his introductory piece:
There’s a lot of talk about electrification in Queenstown and the Southern Lakes at the moment but today something different has happened. Mike Casey, a man with a formidable business record and apparently limitless energy, has launched the Queenstown Electrification Accelerator.
The vision is big. To make Queenstown the global capital of total electrification - buses, cars, hotels, our airport, houses - and yes, even gondolas. For the region to become the world’s most electrified destination.
The QEA project has some big muscle behind it - private investors, local council and tourism agencies, the NZ Government, Mike’s organisation Rewiring Aotearoa and Ara Ake - NZ’s future energy Hub.
Most importantly Mike has the stamina and business acumen to get us all on board.
Crux is fully committed to backing the QEA project and has watched Mike turn vision into reality first with his Forest Lodge cherry farm near Cromwell and in recent times becoming NZ’s leading advocate for fundamental change in the energy sector. Mike is a successful entrepreneur who founded and then sold two major Australian companies before returning to NZ.
The new website which went live only a few hours ago presents a clear and compelling view of where the project is heading.
As gas supplies decline and prices rise, electrification is the best bet, but it's hard for big businesses without government support. Kirsty Johnston talks to Rainbow Nurseries about how it made the switch with help from a grant, and others who are unsure they will be able to keep getting gas. As one busines owner said: "We never considered the risk to the business of not actually having natural gas," one participant said. "We always expect that the price could fluctuate… But we never anticipated maybe having no gas coming from the pipeline." There are ways for the Government to help. And there is a huge amount of new renewable electricity coming on stream, so there won't be a shortage of electrons.
Read moreDownloadMarc Daalder reports on Vector's declining gas network and how it is responding to falling customer numbers. As he writes: "Gas in Auckland is formally past its peak in the latest forecasts from Vector, the city’s only gas distribution business, with new connections set to fall to zero in three years ... From 2029, there would be no new residential or commercial connections – with new industrial connections projected to have already ceased this year."
Read moreDownload'I'm a bogan and I have no problem with the bastardisation of motor vehicles. You can stick whatever motor you like into whatever else you like.' Antz Davies, you are a true boganic Bright Spark and we salute you because it's the bogans that we need to be convincing! Davies is the main brain behind Watt Rods, a Lower Hutt company that converts old cars to electric. "Any and all vehicles, old or new, four wheels or two, big or small, on road or off, fully customised to your requirements."
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