The 'Electric Election': energy policies, side by side
Rewiring Aotearoa's Queenstown Electrification Accelerator is on a mission to create the lowest bills, lowest emissions and highest resilience for the region, and make it easy for homes and businesses to go electric. And it just got a big boost after receiving $220,000 from the Central Lakes Trust.
This pilot programme will establish a locally-based team to develop momentum and accelerate movement to alternate energy sources. A 2020 survey showed that 15% of residents in Queenstown and the Central Otago region were unable to heat their homes consistently. With energy costs still rising globally and nationwide, vulnerable households continue to be disproportionately impacted.
“Electrification holds the key to solving many of the challenges we face in our community,” says Rewiring Aotearoa’s CEO Mike Casey. “Switching our energy reliance from fossil fuels to locally generated electricity will lower the cost of living, improve community health, and reduce emissions to help our region become a global role model in community-led energy.”
While the name of the programme includes “Queenstown”, resources, educational materials, events, package deals, and capability building will be made available to everyone throughout the region.
“We are thrilled to support this initiative,” says Linda Robertson, Chair of CLT. “It’s an exciting step toward a more resilient and low-emissions future that ensures all our communities have access to clean, affordable energy.”
When the project was launched, Casey said demonstration projects are crucial to show people what’s possible and his all-electric orchard near Cromwell is a prime example of that. Similarly, he believes Queenstown could become a demonstration project in its own right.
“This transition to electric machines is already happening, in large part because the economics now stack up so well, but the Accelerator is all about speeding the transition up in one location through a combination of education, training, and innovation.”
The project will provide:
The Queenstown region has played a central role in New Zealand’s renewable energy history. And now it’s about to play an important role in the world’s renewable energy future by turning Queenstown into the world’s most electrified destination.
For more information and to register your interest, visit qea.nz.
'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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