Co-leaders Chloe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson introduced the party’s energy policy, which aims to reduce electricity costs and invest in a sustainable, renewable energy economy over the medium and long term.
If elected, Swarbrick explained, the Green Party would set up a publicly owned company, KiwiPower, using $980 million raised from the party’s proposed ‘‘super-rich tax.’’
KiwiPower would focus on investing in renewable energy solutions to address New Zealand’s ‘‘dry year problem,’’ which occurs when low hydro and wind power generation leads to energy shortages.
The current government’s plan to tackle these dry years involves building a $1 billion LNG terminal in Taranaki, which Swarbrick criticized as increasing reliance on fossil fuels and adding financial volatility.
Swarbrick emphasized that KiwiPower would ensure returns on investment through reduced power bills and secure energy supply for industries. This would be achieved by providing firming, or backup generation, capacity.
Under the policy, larger power companies would need to allocate some of their firming capacity to KiwiPower, which would then distribute it to the wider market.
The Green Party’s policy package also proposes zero-interest loans for clean energy, solar rights for renters, legalizing plug-in solar systems, and expanding the Warmer Kiwi Homes grants for more comprehensive upgrades.
When asked about the policy’s importance in coalition negotiations, Swarbrick stated that it should be an ‘‘absolute bottom line’’ for all political parties.
The announcement took place at the Dunedin Gasworks Museum, the first and last coal gas manufacturing site in New Zealand.
Davidson highlighted that transforming the energy system is crucial for both financial and environmental benefits.
‘‘We stand here today in this building that rightly places fossil fuels where they belong — in a museum,’’ she remarked.
Although student flats could benefit from renters’ solar rights, Swarbrick acknowledged that students might not afford plug-in solar systems. She noted this underscores the need for a comprehensive transformation of the economic system.
Meanwhile, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters criticized existing solar policies as insufficient and advocated for exploring offshore oil and gas resources for domestic use and export.
Swarbrick dismissed this approach as wasteful, arguing even if new sources were discovered, they would still be finite.
‘‘What we are talking about investing in is tapping into the abundant, literally renewable energy,’’ she concluded.
ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz
