TRANSMISSION FOCUS OF WIND FARM CASE
28 April 2008
By STEVE HEPBURN
THE Environment Court hearing on the proposed Mahinerangi wind farm resumes today, with the focus switching from the land to the wires.
The hearing started in Dunedin on April 14, running for a week before Judge Jeff Smith, and three commissioners, before taking last week off.
TrustPower was granted resource consents in September last year to a build $400 million, 200MW wind farm at Mahinerangi.
The consents were appealed by two groups: the Upland Landscape Protection Society, and Contact Energy.
The first week was focused mainly on the effects of the wind farm on the environment, with TrustPower producing four witnesses so far. But the emphasis todaywill shift to transmission, as the appeal of Contact Energy is heard.
Contact's grounds for appeal is grid restrictions.
It says only half the capacity of the Mahinerangi wind farm could be used, because of transmission bottlenecks.
TrustPower has responded that Contact Energy's appeal is more to do with competition, than the ability to transmit electricity efficiently.
Also appearing as section 274 parties under the Resource Management Act are the Ministry for the Environment and Meridian Energy. Both of these parties are expected to produce witnesses this week.
The hearing is tentatively scheduled to finish next Wednesday.
© Copyright 2008 Allied Press Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Otago Daily Times
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