Rejected wind farm delays New Zealand's energy transition

Contact Energy's plan for a new wind farm in Southland has been rejected. The project was turned down because it is located in an area deemed an “outstanding natural feature.” The New Zealand Wind Energy Association expressed concern that this rejection will slow down the country's shift to renewable energy. They believe the wind farm near Wyndham could have been a key part of New Zealand's journey towards a net-zero future. An expert panel rejected the application for environmental reasons this week. This panel was established under a special law aimed at speeding up approvals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Kevin Hart, chief executive of the Wind Energy Association, said that to meet the government's goal of doubling renewable energy by 2050, New Zealand needs to add between 9 to 15 gigawatts of new renewable electricity in the next 25 years. The rejection of this wind farm makes reaching this goal more challenging.