Energy Blackouts

Colin Espiner blogs that Labour’s energy strategy has significant risks:

Demand for power is growing at 2% a year. The energy strategy states this will fall to 1.5%, which is an arguable point, but even accepting this, that means that over the 18 years before 2025 the country will require 27% more energy than it currently has available just to maintain the status quo. Add immigration, economic growth, and Kiwis’ seemingly insatiable desire for new electronic gadgetry into the equation, and it’s starting to look a little dodgy.

Given that the security of our energy supply is already questionable (remember the cold showers and the brownouts every time there is a “dry year”?) and the Government’s decision to can the 500MW Rodney station has a whiff of political craziness about it.

It’s all very well steering the country down a path of energy sustainability, but I’m not sure voters yet realise what that will mean in practice. And placing the country’s energy security in jeopardy is foolhardy indeed.

I think the move to renewable energy sources is inevitable and desirable. But the timetable has to be one which guarantees security of supply.  To place political motivations over timing ahead of security of supply is indeed foolish.