The South Island does not need more hydro-generated electricity but it desperately needs electricity from alternative sources, such as wind, Waitaki First chairwoman Helen Brookes said yesterday.
Dr Brookes was commenting on the drought which has lowered hydro lake levels and prompted a call to conserve electricity.
The South Island's power demands are being partially met by thermally-generated electricity from the North Island.
Dr Brookes said wind was the obvious alternative to hydro-electric generation in the South Island.
"The majority of people and Waitaki First support more wind generation, although there are some people who do not believe the wind farms being proposed are sited in the right place," she said.
More wind generation would allow water to be saved when the wind could be used for power generation.
"That would provide a secure supply for electricity for the South Island and a reasonable price," she said.
