Power scheme draws green debate

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 388, 28 May 1991, Page 1

Power scheme draws green debate

The Karioi Power Scheme is generating interest among conservationists, with the Department of Conservation asking to be kept informed about the project and the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society calling for energy conservation rather than dam building. Last month's T aranaki-W anganui Conservation Board meeting was told DoC had written to the King Country Electric Power Board (now King Country Energy) asking for information and calling for a meeting to discuss

environmental issues. The conservation board felt the Whangaehu, while it may have little value in terms of aquatic life, and already had a degraded water quality due to discharges from the Karioi Pulp Mill, that it did have wild and scenic values and was also favoured by canoeists in the central North Island. Under the proposed scheme water would be taken from the most important section of the river to canoeists. Forest and Bird has challenged the board, and all other boards, to establish the need for the dam before arguing

the environmental issues. "We challenge the premise whether power consumption will continue to increase in New Zealand," said Kevin Smith, society conservation director. "If electricity conservation and efficiency measures acquire real meaning ... the electricity -to be generated by the (Karioi) scheme will not be needed." He said pulp and paper mills will soon be electricity sellers rather than buyers, with co-genera-tion using wood or natural gas, so the Karioi pulp mill may not be a customer.

"Power authorities need to be aware of the potential of co-genera-tion to meet any future growth in energy demand. Otherwise they may be left with expensive new power schemes generating power no one wants," said Mr Smith. "Solar power, wind power and micro-hydro schemes will also be-

come increasingly important in the future." "For the Whangaehu Scheme the critical question is whether it is possible to reduce power consumption by an equivalent amount for less than the $160 million it would cost to build the dam. "We propose, for exTurnpage2

Power

From page 1 ample, that the KCEPB (King Country Energy) purchase bulk supplies of energy efficient light bulbs and distribute then to the board's customers," he said. The board could recoup its costs through 10 $2 payments added to the regular accounts and the customer would benefit from reduced long-term power consumption.