[North-NV-Greens] Fwd: USGP-INT NZ Greens release Energy Policy calling for Peak Oil awareness

[Paul Etxeberri]

>
>
>(forwarded by: Leenie Halbert Green Party of Louisiana)
>
>05.25.05
>
>NZ Green Party releases comprehensive Energy Policy calling for Peak 
>Oil Awareness
>
>To read the comprehensive Policy, click here:
>
>http://greens.org.nz/searchdocs/PR8708.html
>
>
>A summary of the Greens Party's 2005 Energy Policy
>
>Key initiatives at a glance
>
>*	Half a million solar water heating panels
>*	Sustainable Energy Commission
>*	Alternatives to pylons
>*	One-stop energy advisory shop for households
>*	No new coal
>*	Pay for what you use - no fixed charges
>
>Critical Energy Issues facing New Zealand
>*	Peak oil
>*	Climate change
>*	Maui depletion
>*	Growing demand
>*	Fuel poverty
>*	Short-term thinking
>
>Our Vision
>
>1.	Energy services reliably and affordably provided from renewable energy.
>2.	Smarter use of energy, with less waste and less adverse effects
>3.	All New Zealanders play a part in shaping our energy future
>
>
>Getting there - The Greens' proposals to address the six key issues above
>
>Peak Oil - facing up to the end of cheap oil
>
>1.	Acknowledge the issue, inform the public and plan the transition
>2.	Act now to prepare for the future: fuel efficiency standards 
>for vehicles, develop biofuels, invest in public transport, 
>cooperate internationally
>
>
>Climate change - facing up to the risk of global catastrophe
>
>*	Make it clear there will be no new use of coal for energy, 
>cap CO2 emissions from electricity generation, and introduce a 
>carbon charge
>*	Plan a transition to renewables, continuing the use of carbon 
>credits for renewables and create a minimum 'green energy' 
>contribution for electricity sales
>*	Significantly improve energy efficiency (see below)
>
>
>Maui depletion - facing up to the end of cheap gas for electricity generation
>
>1.	Increase use of gas directly for heating and cooking rather 
>than electricity
>2.	Install half-a-million solar water heating panels over five 
>years and expand training in solar building design
>3.	Plan better for wind energy and encourage the use of waste 
>wood as a fuel
>4.	Accelerate R&D into wave, current and tidal energy
>
>
>Growing demand - facing up to the need to use energy smarter
>
>1.	Strengthen the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority 
>and accelerate the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation 
>Strategy
>2.	Encourage SOEs to develop business strategies based around 
>energy efficiency and stable energy demand
>3.	Increase energy efficiency standards for buildings, upgrade 
>the building code to encourage solar design in new buildings, and 
>require home energy labelling at time of sale
>4.	Expand support for home energy efficiency retrofits
>5.	Increase energy efficiency standards for appliances and products
>6.	Initiate a Government leadership programme for energy 
>efficiency in public buildings and vehicles
>7.	Require Land Transport New Zealand to ensure its decisions 
>support the transition to a sustainable energy future
>
>
>Fuel poverty - facing up to the fact that everyone needs a warm home
>
>1.	Remove fixed charges for household power
>2.	Insulate and damp-proof more homes and create a local home 
>advisory service with a focus on energy efficiency
>3.	Install solar water heating on low-income homes
>4.	Investigate 'progressive pricing'
>
>Planning and coordination - facing up to the need to think beyond tomorrow
>
>*	Electricity Commission becomes Sustainable Energy Commission 
>with a mandate to look at all fuels, and ensure consumers and small 
>producers have input to decisions.
>*	Require new large capital projects to be tested against 
>sustainable alternatives
>*	Independent review of Transpower's expansion plans and ensure 
>Transpower focuses on alternatives to expanding transmission lines
>*	New electricity market rules:
>*	Facilitate distributed generation
>*	Facilitate demand side participation in market
>*	Net metering or billing
>*	Dry winter conservation plan
>
>
>
>
>Tell   US   Congress   to   wake   up!   Sign   the   Peak  Oil
>Awareness--Solutions  for a Post Carbon Economy Petition go to:
>http://www.PetitionOnline.com/EndofOil/petition.html
>
>
>
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-- 
Paul Etxeberri

"Forests precede civilizations and deserts follow"   ---Chateaubriand