Project Hayes: Gone with the wind

This was a project that had a lot to offer. Incredibly large power production at an affordable cost. For wind power to be turned down by the Environment Court is worse than ironic.
As cars strart to become electrically powered, NZ is going to need all the power it can get its hands on.

Those who campaingned against this project were, in effect, campainging for the alternative: More coal.

The benefits of wind energy have been called into question in England and Wales because they did not produce as much electricity as the government had forecast because it is not windy enough. A wind farm would look absolutely beautiful on Auckland's One Tree Hill. What could be a better situation than there where it blows a gale most of the time. It may even prevent the power going off in Auckland's CBD so often. I see no reason why John Key should oppose my suggestion.

Funkie01 says "the few always get their way" i.e. block Think Big-style projects that are claimed by their promoters to be in the interests of us all. It was indeed "a few" who did the hard work of opposing, just as it was "a few" who put forward the project for their own commercial advantage. This was never about philanthropy on their part and don't forget it! As for opponents being a minority, this is an easy allegation to make but elsewhere (www.odt.co.nz/the-regions/central-otago/81241/039silent-majority039-not-acquiescent-wind-farm) it is shown that the assumption that the silent majority are for the project was erroneous. I look forward to more research on the true position of "silent majorities" whose support is assumed by the stronger party in any such conflict of interest. The facts about these people's opinion may come as a nasty shock to those people with the power to run roughshod over what they stigmatise as a few eco-extremists, nimbys and nay-sayers.

These people also have enjoyed years of reliable power from all the other projects in Otago with no complaint and benefited personally from it. Power will become the millstone around NZers' necks as we still rely upon fossil fuels which we need to import. You think it is expensive now? As long as we debate projects like this and the few always get their way, power prices will go through the roof. In the end no one will come here to view our landscapes as the lights will be off The govt needs to deem this a matter of national security and overule this decision forthwith.

The money would be better invested in insulation and efficient heating, so that we don't require more electricity. Plus, the moment that Rio decide to shut the aluminium smelter (it's getting pretty marginal for them profit-wise), there will be so much electricity down here, we won't be able to use the capacity already here.

These two should be ashamed of themselves. A $2 billion project during a deep recession which would have provided many jobs and given Kiwis the skills to participate in a clean green future. $8 million wasted on legal fees. When will another power company attempt to do anything positive when they have to put up with this sort of opposition? Congratulations guys you have now set another "not in my backyard" precedent. All of NZ is beautiful but these projects have to be carried out somewhere Why do you keep roadblocking them? I love how this guy mentions this as the best day besides his children being born. Ironic as he sells his children's future down the toilet. What about their right to clean air and the slowing of global warming? I for one think that the sight of wind farms producing clean sustainable energy is a beautiful sight but thanks guys for preserving your definition of beauty for the 6 people who tramp through this area every year. Ask your kids in 20 years if they are as proud of your "victory" as you are today.