The NZGA has made submissions to local and central government on policy relating to geothermal development and energy use in New Zealand.

Recent Submissions

Submission on MED Geothermal Barriers Paper

This responded to a paper prepared by the Ministry of Economic Development on possible barriers to a range of geothermal development options and reflected barriers from NZGA's perspective.

Submission on Environment Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement

This submission emphasised the key role of geothermal energy amongst all renewable energy forms which government is trying to encourage. Costs were placed against restrictive decisions.

Submission on Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill 2009

The submission expressed concerns about changes to the ETS that would dilute price signals.

Further Submission to Ministry for the Environment related to Climate Change Regulations 2009

This submission addressed speciic issues related to thresholds to avoid capture of non-industrial direct use, and to default emissions factors.

Submission to Ministry for the Environment on Climate Change (Stationary Energy and Industrial Processes and Unique Emissions Factor) Regulations 2009 (Draft for Consultation)

This extended previous Government work around measurement of emissions. There were some unsatisfactory aspects in terms of absences of thresholds and high default emissions values for new projects.

Submission to Ministry for the Environment on Climate Change (Stationary Energy and Industrial Processes) Regulations 2009 (Draft for Consultation)

The Government was considering the detail around the measurement of emissions associated with the emissions trading scheme. NZGA offered some practical advice on the measurement of geothermal emissions.

Submission to Board of Inquiry on the National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation

Government has developed a draft National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation with a view to directing decision makers in the Resource Management Act process to take account of the national importance of renewable forms of generation (including geothermal generation). NZGA supported this NPS though pointed out some unncessary policies and an alternative view on the drivers for such an NPS.

Combined Submission on the Draft New Zealand Energy Strategy, Transitional Measures and New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy

Government has been developing policy frameworks for energy markets and climate change and consulted on a range of documents from late 2006

NZGA reinforced the positive view held on geothermal potential and provided further commentary.

Questionnaire from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment on Renewable Energy

The PCE has been developing views on renewable energy and energy efficiency and seeking broad industry feedback.

NZGA has given feedback recognising the need for balance and the ongoing role for thermal generation.

Submission to Reference Group on Electricity Transmission

• A government-led reference group on electricity transmission sought comments on a proposal to introduce a National Policy Statement and National Environmental Standards around electricity transmission (see MED website)
  
• NZGA was supportive of efforts to facilitate transmission development and maintenance. This is motivated by the need for an adequate link between Central North Island resources and the Auckland electricity market

Submission to Inland Revenue on Taxation Treatment of Geothermal Wells

• Inland Revenue, together with other government departments, has been considering possible changes to the taxation of geothermal wells with a view to an improved regime covering exploration wells and removal of anomalous treatment of "black hole" expenditure (see IRD website)
  
• NZGA sought a clear policy, including the need for deductibility of unusable wells. NZGA deferred to its members on whether or not there should be separate taxation regimes for exploration and production.

New Zealand Geothermal Association Position Statement

• The NZGA represents a diverse membership, some of which have differing views. A Position Statement was developed to represent the broad view of membership.
  
• This Position Statement was presented to the Minister of Energy at a meeting in February 2006 to assist him and officials in considering geothermal energy in our future energy mix.
  

All Submissions

NZGA submissions are listed in descending date order in the following table and may all be downloaded.

Date	Submission On	Topic	Type	Size
Apr 2010	MED Geothermal Barriers Paper	A dialogue with MED on geothermal barriers	PDF	192KB
Mar 2010	Environment Bay of Plenty Regional Policy Statement	This submission emphasised the key role of geothermal energy as an energy source to be encouraged	PDF	316KB
Oct 2009	Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill 2009	NZGA was concerned about dilution of price signals under the amended ETS	PDF	132KB
Sept 2009	Draft Climate Change Regulations 2009 details	This submissions addressed specific issues related to thresholds to avoid capture of non-industrial direct use, and to default emissions factors.	PDF	149KB
Jul 2009	Draft Climate Change (Stationary Energy and Industrial Processes and Unique Emissions Factor) Regulations 2009	NZGA comments on specific provisions mainly focused on the need for thresholds (and impacts without these) and unreasonableness of general default emissions factors and of the associated price signals being sent.	PDF	214KB
Dec 2008	Draft Climate Change (Stationary Energy and Industrial Processes) Regulations 2008	NZGA comments on specific provisions mainly related to geothermal measurement aspects.	PDF	69.3KB
Oct 2008	NPS on Renewable Electricity Generation	Comments on the Government's draft National Policy Statement related to renewable electricity	PDF	95.8KB
Mar 2007	NZES, TM and NZEECS	Combined submission on government energy and climate change policy frameworks	PDF	106KB
Dec 2006	PCE Questionnaire	Response to a PCE questionnaire on renewable energy and energy efficiency	PDF	60KB
Mar 2006	Transmission National Policy Satement	Comments on the proposed National Policy Statement and National Environmental Standards related to transmission	PDF	117KB
Feb 2006	Geothermal Well Taxation	NZGA submission on treatment of geothermal wells for taxation purposes	PDF	110KB
Feb 2006	NZGA Position Statement	A key document outlining broad NZGA views on geothermal development in New Zealand	PDF	222KB
Feb 2004	Waikato Regional Plan	Statement of Evidence for the proposed Waikato Regional Plan and Regional Policy Statement	PDF	90KB
May 2003	Waikato Regional Plan	Comments on the geothermal sections of the proposed Waikato Regional Plan and Regional Policy Statement	PDF	61KB
May 2003	EECA Renewable Energy Program	NZGA submission to EECA proposing key target market activities to increase the uptake of renewable energy produced by the Geothermal sector	PDF	133KB
May 2003	Commerce Committee Inquiry into the Electricity Industry	Submission on the Commerce Committee Inquiry	PDF	39KB
Sept 2002	Bay of Plenty Regional Land and Water Plan	Further Submission on Bay of Plenty Regional Land and Water Plan	PDF	15KB
Jun 2002	Draft National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy	NZGA Further Submission on the Government Draft National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy	PDF	17KB
May 2002	Bay of Plenty Regional Land and Water Plan	Submission on Bay of Plenty Regional Land and Water Plan	PDF	14KB
Dec 2001	Draft National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy	NZGA Further Submission on the Government Draft National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy	PDF	15KB
Dec 2001	Draft National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy	Initial submission on Draft National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy	PDF	11KB
Dec 2001	MfE: Climate Change	Submission on Climate Change to the Ministry for the Environment	PDF	15KB
Nov 2001	Post Winter Electricity Review	Submission on Post Winter Electricity Review	PDF	32KB
May 2001	Draft National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy	NZGA Submission on Draft National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy	PDF	22KB
Jun 2000	MfE: Environmental Performance Indicators	Ministry for the Environment Environmental Performance Indicators. Proposal for Indicators of the Environmental Effects of Energy	PDF	18KB