There is no future in burning coal to produce electricity in New Zealand, the Green Party said today.
The comment comes after Genesis Energy today revealed its intention to finally put an end to using coal for electricity production by 2030.
“While it’s all well and good that Genesis has made this announcement around its intentions, in reality the time to stop burning coal is now,” said Green Party energy spokesperson Gareth Hughes.
“Coal belongs in the ground, not burnt in the atmosphere.
“While it is a positive statement, it is set too far in the future and hedged with qualifications. It’s like saying you’ll quit smoking in 12 years – maybe.
“The Green Party is focused on New Zealand’s tremendous clean energy opportunities and getting to 100% renewable electricity while protecting security of supply,” said Mr Hughes.
