NZ: Contact Energy Taup plant granted resource consent
Steam pipelines near Taupo, New Zealand (source: Commons/ Wikimedia)
Alexander Richter
24 Dec 2010
The geothermal power plant project by Contact Energy at Taupo/ New Zealand, estimated at a NZ$1 billion (US$745m) price tag, has been granted resource consent.
In news from New Zealand it is reported that the geothermal power plant project by Contact Energy at Taupo/ New Zealand, estimated at a NZ$1 billion (US$745m) price tag, has been granted resource consent.
The country’s Environment Minister Nick Smith “said the construction and development of the geothermal power station will involve 350 jobs over the 33-month construction period.
The 250MW of renewable power that will be added to the national grid is sufficient to power more than 200,000 homes or the equivalent of Hamilton and Tauranga.
“[An independent Board of Inquiry] has approved the application, with a number of conditions needing to be met by Contact Energy when building and operating the power station,” Smith said.
“The thorough consultation process undertaken by the Board of Inquiry has enabled the community, including iwi, to work through their concerns and resolve any issues. This is a robust and timely decision.”
Contact Energy lodged an application in March 2010 for consent to build the Tauhara II Geothermal Development. It is the first project processed under the national consenting process of the reformed Resource Management Act.”
Source: TVNZ
