Are wind farms the answer to power demands?

Opinion

KEY POINTS:

• Are wind turbines the answer to New Zealand power demands?

An opponent of Contact Energy's plan to build a $1 billion wind farm in Waikato says the company has abused the planning process by calling for a delay to a fast-track hearing.

The power company yesterday asked the board of inquiry to postpone the hearing on its planned 180-turbine wind farm near Raglan for at least a year so it can do more research and site work.

Contact last August welcomed the Labour Government's decision to use the call-in powers of the Resource Management Act and have the application considered by a board as important in removing "unnecessary delays" for a project of national significance.

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