OPINION:
Ah what a moment, savouring a tasty taco in our city's heart on a calm sunny autumn day. Soaking in the warm rays, I could almost forget we live in one of Earth's windiest places.
Of course, I only had to look at our skyline for a reminder of the massive amount of energy we are poised to harvest at any moment. At times the wind has such force, one can hardly stand upright in Te Marae o Hine, giving a hint of just how much clean energy we can harness with those big fans.
Travelling the Pahiatua Track, or even in the city, we can see our region's newest windfarm forming up, waiting for the long blades to find a way up the hill. When the new farm's electricity starts flowing next year, the owner expects it will power 375,000 electric cars. A big number. When Te Apiti windfarm opened in 2004 behind Ashhurst it was promoted as powering 30,000 homes.
It's all good powering more electric homes and cars. So long as we're also switching our big buildings, industrial milk driers, and even our community swimming pools to electric power. With our clean energy systems flourishing in Manawatū, we're well placed to help get the whole lot on to renewable energy, creating jobs, diversifying our economy and minimising our emissions liabilities.
As we switch more and more of our lives on to clean energy sources, we can bet there will be more demand for improved energy systems. With another windfarm planned for the Puketoi Range east of Pahiatua, we're seeing our local clean energy economy poised to keep growing.