Wind Farm Hearing Takes Unexpected Twist As Opponents Challenge Climate Science
July 30th, 2008
Chris Mole, Associate Editor
• Environment Court reconvenes.
• Climate change sceptics take stand.
• Could be “landmark case.”
Opponents of Meridian Energy’s Project Hayes in Central Otago are this week focusing on climate change science, bringing in experts to challenge the theory of man-made warming. The Environment Court has reconvened to wrap up the Project Hayes hearing over the next two weeks. Meridian wants to erect up to 176 turbines generating up to 630MW in the Lammermoor Range but a group of high profile opponents believe the wind farm will destroy the iconic landscape.
Aucklander Roch Sullivan, who describes himself as a private individual who opposes the wind farm, has called on several scientists to give evidence in support of his appeal. Sullivan notes Meridian is relying heavily on the benefits of mitigating climate change as a justification for the wind farm. But he argues, “if the wind farm does not stack up from an economic point of view, and if the theory of man-made global warming fails to survive serious scientific scrutiny, how can Meridian or the Govt responsibly spend billions of tax-payers’ money to build it?”
Experts to be called by Sullivan include Prof Bob Carter from James Cook University in Queensland, who recently gave evidence in a benchmark UK case which identified nine major errors in Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Others include Auckland University climate scientist Chris de Freitas, Dr Kesten Green from Monash University, and energy analyst Bryan Leyland. They will all challenge the IPCC’s stance on climate change and argue the science is not settled. They will argue the latest available evidence shows the most recent phase of global warming ceased at the end of the 20th century.
Sullivan adds, “if this cooling continues as expected, then the claimed environmental benefits of the Project Hayes Wind farm, and of wind generation in general, are illusory.” Sullivan believes Project Hayes could turn out to be a “landmark case” in relation to climate change. He insists he does not represent any group or organisation but has chosen at his own expense to oppose Project Hayes on the grounds it is “not in the national interest.”
Save Central, the lobby group established to oppose Project Hayes, is headed by artist Graeme Sydney and also includes poet Brian Turner, former All Black Anton Oliver and former All Black captain and Fairfax Media CEO David Kirk. Kirk personally paid for a full-page newspaper decrying Project Hayes as “vandalism.”
Meridian argues wind energy is the best option for NZ, given the lack of new rivers to dam for major hydro schemes, the Govt’s moratorium on coal and gas-fired generation and public opposition to nuclear power. It believes the remote and wind-swept Lammermoor Range is the ideal location for a large wind farm. Politicians on both sides of the House are supporting Project Hayes, as they are keen to be seen as doing something about global warming.
Copyright © Media Information Ltd
NZ Energy & Environment Business Week
Amalgamated Dairies