NEW N CANTY WIND-FARM INITIATIVE
17 January 2009Paul GORMAN
A second power company has begun monitoring North Canterbury hills for a wind-farm site.
New Zealand Exchange-listed TrustPower has installed wind- recording equipment near Omihi to check average and maximum wind speeds at different heights.
The 80-metre monitoring mast is on the Mt Vulcan farm of Environment Canterbury Councillor Ross Little.
North Canterbury lines company MainPower is waiting to hear the outcome of its bid for a wind farm at Mt Cass, about 6km east of Waipara. Hearings were held late last year on the application for a wind farm to generate up to 69 megawatts of electricity - enough to power about 24,000 homes.
The proposal has attracted opposition from groups concerned the wind farm will affect ecological values of the limestone landscape.
TrustPower spokesman Graeme Purches said North Canterbury appeared to have potential as a source of wind power.
The region was one of two in the South Island where the company had investigations under way.
"But because we are monitoring doesn't mean it will come to anything," he said.
Farmers often supported wind farms on their land, Purches said.
"They end up with a steady source of income that helps makes farms viable."
Little is on holiday and could not be reached for comment, but a family member confirmed the monitoring mast was on his property.
Purches said the economic climate was making it difficult to build wind farms.
"The problem we have now is the exchange rate and the cost of turbines," he said.
"At the moment the exchange rate makes the cost of turbines prohibitive.
"But there will be a drop in the price of turbines in the next 12 months."
©009 Fairfax New Zealand Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The Press (Christchurch)
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