Goals, guidelines on energy policy

Press, 22 May 1978, Page 2

Goals, guidelines on energy policy

PA Wellington' • The Government has released a discussion paper to explain its- thinking on New Zealand’s future energy 1 needs. By publishing “Goals and,' Guidelines.” the Governments hopes to attract “feed-back”: 1 from the public to help it' 1 form a comprehensive ener-jl gy policy. ' The Minister of Energy,' (Mr Gair) describes the Gov- 1 ernment’s move as a way of; ■involving people in decision- | making. The publication, of just* over 100 pages, sells for $3. It provides background mat-p erial on existing methods of J providing energy, resources i find costing, deals with future needs, and discusses alternative sources of ener-1; Its main thrust is repre-! sen ted in four goals and 11 guidelines. ' The goals are.— TO ensure that energy sup-1 plies are adequate top enable the community to continue to meet its! ( economic and social goals. TO ensure that energy in its] various forms is pro-' duced and used in the: ' most economic, efficient, and reliable manner. i] TO reduce the nation’s' dependence on imported • oil. TO ensure a balance be-] ■ tween the adverse envi- I ronmental effects of'

energv developments and their benefits. The guidelines are described as principles applying to all energy decision-mak-ing. I'he first guideline hopes that New Zealand cannot isolate itself from the events of the world as a whole, andi I that the world’s energy problems cannot be solved 'without a co-operative effort, in which New Zealand must join. ; It also says: “We need to ] promote public understanding and acceptance of j conservation and efficient production, distribution, and 'consumption of energy.” But it says, the best of intentions will come to noth-, ing without efficient organisation of energy production ]and distribution. I The guideline on the futlure urges a long-term view lin evaluating projects rei quiring the consumption of energy resources, and i emphasises the use of renewable resources. I Other guidelines are. — ' Environment: ensure that effective procedures are used to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with energy developments. I Exploration: encouourage exploration to deter-, mine the nature and ex-1 tent of the nation’s] energy resources. Research and development: promote research and

development into new techniques for producing and conserving energy.

Pricing: achieve a pricing structure that encour-1 ages conservation and I the use of the most economic energy form.

[Substitution: faciiitiate and encourage the use of coal and natural gas where they can replace oil and electricity. Transport: reduce the nation’s and particularly the transport sector’s dependence on oil.

Mr Gair said he did not suggest that “Goals and Guidelines” was, or should be seen to be, a final word in the making of policy. [“But it represents a useful ! beginning.” He knew of no other [country that had managed to bring together energy philosophy in this way and present it to the public for review and analysis “. . . so that this response from the public may be taken into account as the Government develops energy policies.” Mr Gair said he hoped the paper would be widely read and serve as a useful background to a continuing and informed public debate on energy matters. Specialinterest groups and individuals are invited to make submissions on the paper and Mr Gair aims to bring the results together for the fourth New Zealand energy conference next year, probably in July.