Meridian definitely not to restore 634-MW wind plan in New Zealand

Nov 14, 2014 - New Zealand state-owned utility Meridian Energy Ltd does not intend to revive its 633.6-MW wind project in New Zealand's South Island and has no plans to build a smaller-scale facility, either, local media said.

Meridian Energy withdrew its resource consent applications for the NZD-2-billion (USD 1.6bn/EUR 1.3bn) Hayes project in 2012 with the aim to focus on projects with higher commercial priority. The company is now selling the land it got for the proposed project on the Lammermoor Range in Central Otago, said spokeswoman Michelle Brooker, as cited by the Otago Daily Times today.

When it was still keen to build the huge farm, the developer bought some of the land it would need for the project, the Logan Burn Station and also entered into leases with property owners.

Meridian initiated the 176-turbine project in 2006 and received resource consents by the relevant local authorities in 2007. The scheme, however, met opposition due to its impact on the landscape and appeals returned it to the Environment Court. When pulling back from the project, Meridian said it had made a NZD-8.9-million investment in the development.

(NZD 1.0 = USD 0.784/EUR 0.631)

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