Wind farm bids power up

Wairarapa could end up with well over 100 wind turbines at six separate wind farms if a host of new projects get the go-ahead.
Currently there are just two wind farms in the area, both operated by Genesis Energy at Hau Nui near Martinborough.
Hau Nui 1 has seven turbines and Hau Nui 2 has eight.
However, the company is investigating an additional wind farm, dubbed Hau Nui 3, west of the existing fields.
It is understood that farm could feature up to 40 turbines.
Genesis is also in the process of gaining resource consents from two district councils and two regional councils in the area for a large windfarm at a site called Castle Hill.
The project, 20km northeast of Masterton, is now undergoing public consultation and the company has already hosted two open days at Alfredton Hall in September.
A Genesis spokeswoman said they hoped to lodge the consents "before mid 2011", after consultation with the affected communities in the area and iwi.
Meanwhile, there two other wind farms in their early stages in other parts of Wairarapa.
Greater Wellington Regional Council is investigating making council-owned land at Stoney Creek on the White Rock Rd available for private wind farm development.
Now at the monitoring stage, Greater Wellington's 10 year plan lists Stoney Creek as set to be developed between 2012 and 2019 if the project is viable.
Greater Wellington spokesman Brett Sangster said talks with one energy supplier had broken down "but we may talk to other companies in the future".
There is also the proposed 45-turbine Meridian Energy windfarm near Martinborough, although that project is on hold. The project was mooted for Nga Waka O Kupe, about 8km southeast of Martinborough, but came up against strong public opposition.
Meridian is waiting on a GWRC landscape survey of the area.