M.P.s’ energy surplus plan

Press, 26 August 1982, Page 1

M.P.s’ energy surplus plan

South Island backbench National members of Parliament will band together to make sure that any surplus electricity produced by the Clyde high dam will be used in the South Island. The member for Selwyn, Miss Ruth Richardson, said yesterday that figures in the 1982 Energy Plan would show that a’ surplus of energy of up to 1200 GWh would be locked in the South Island between 1989 and 1994 if the second aluminium smelter did not go ahead. The existing Cook Strait cable had a south-to-north capacity of 4470 GWh a year, and was fully committed. The level of the surplus alone did not warrant the expense of $l3O million for a second cable, and in a dry -year, according to the power planners, much of the surplus would disappear. Given no dry years, Miss

Richardson said, the surplus could be used in conversion from oil to electricity by Canterbury industry, and for spray irrigation development in Canterbury at concession rates for electricity. The member for Marlborough, Mr D. L. Kidd, has an. eye to its use in forestry development in the Sounds, as does the member for Clutha, Mr R.'M. Gray, who is also looking for industrial development if the smelter proposal fails. The member for Rangiora. Mr D. F. Quigley, and Miss Richardson plan to work together on irrigation development for Canterbury. Miss Richardson said that a study of Ashburton farms showed that spray-irrigated farms were four times more productive in income earned, and benefits to the community than non-irrigated farms.