Environmentalist critical of Taranaki's proposed $1b hydrogen project

Friday, 23 November 2018

Climate Justice Taranaki spokeswoman Emily Bailey has publicly criticised a proposed $1 billion hydrogen project, which could be coming to the region.

A Taranaki environmentalist has slammed a $1 billion hydrogen proposal, but a district councillor believes the gas is part of the region's future.

Emily Bailey, spokeswoman for Climate Justice Taranaki, has called the potential new development a 'flawed' concept and one that flies in the face of the Government's climate change targets.

Energy firm Pouakai NZ has announced plans for a clean hydrogen power plant that would also produce fertiliser for domestic use and export and bring thousands of jobs to the region.

The firm has applied to the government for money towards a $50million feasibility study.

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New Plymouth district councillor Stacey Hitchcock travelled to Scotland in October to look at hydrogen options as part of the H2 Taranaki delegation.

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While she would not comment on the 8 Rivers development, New Plymouth councillor Stacey Hitchcock said other countries with the same 'ambitious' zero-emission goals like New Zealand were turning to renewable energy, but hydrogen was also part of the story.

'In general with hydrogen, it is part of the answer for forward thinking,' she said

'It's a real opportunity for Taranaki.'

But Bailey called the potential $1b project the 'second round of unsustainable Thing Big technology' which would be costly to produce, both in terms of money and on the environment.

She said the possibility of the new project was at odds with increasing calls for action to address the climate change issue.

Bailey pointed to a letter to the Government signed by 150 academics and researchers, delivered this week which urged it to 'produce the deep and lasting emissions reductions required, especially in the transport, industry and agriculture sectors'.

She said such a call was unprecedented.

'Never before have our prominent scientists united and spoke against consumerism and economic growth so loudly, we have got to listen and ask ourselves what sort of a future we want.'

She said there was a 'huge push' around the world for solutions to be found to address the growing climate crisis.

In October, Hitchcock travelled to Aberdeen in Scotland as part of the H2 Taranaki working group, which was set up to encourage the growth and uptake of hydrogen projects in the region.

The trip, which cost the district ratepayers $6438, also looked at New Plymouth becoming a World Cities Energy Partner, developing a hydrogen road map and a civic memorandum of understanding with Aberdeen.

She said the hydrogen road map for the region, developed under the Tapuae Roa Action Plan, should be completed before the end of the year.

'All of that will inform what we do going forward.'

But whatever that might mean for Taranaki, it will require 'considerable' financial backing from central government, she said.