September 19th, 2024
The Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) have invited the public to provide feedback on proposals aimed at improving renewable electricity generation and electricity transmission consenting.
This initiative is expected to help the country meet its emissions reduction targets, according to a government media release.
The proposals focus on providing more enabling policy direction for renewable electricity infrastructure development, particularly for wind and solar generation and transmission projects. They relate to a package of national direction instruments under the Resource Management Act (1991), covering existing policies such as the National Policy Statement for Renewable Electricity Generation and National Environmental Standards for Electricity Transmission Activities, as well as introducing new standards for renewable electricity generation.
The ministries acknowledged that the current national direction was developed before emissions reduction targets were incorporated into New Zealand law and no longer supports the pace and scale of development required to decarbonise the economy.
Competing interests with other important environmental considerations, such as valued landscapes and indigenous biodiversity, have been an issue with past project consenting. The consultation aims to propose options for nationally consistent 'consenting pathways' to guide how environmental impacts are balanced against the need for renewable electricity development.
The proposals also address ways to enable small and community-scale renewable electricity generation, which often face disproportionate consenting requirements and costs relative to their adverse effects. New technologies, such as grid-connected battery storage, will also be covered.
In line with current best practice, Māori interests in the consenting process for renewables and transmission will be provided for by placing value on early engagement and protecting sites of significance. The government expects any changes resulting from this consultation to be aligned with the wider resource management reforms.
The consultation period is open from 20 April until 1 June 2023.