Govt found $1m for humanitarian support after Moroccan earthquake – but what about the victims of Libyan floods?
Again, no news has been posted on the government’s official website over the past 24 hours.
Indeed, no news has been posted since Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta last Thursday announced New Zealand would be providing $1 million humanitarian support to Morocco to those affected by the magnitude 7 earthquake in central Morocco on September 8.
According to the latest official figures, around 3,000 people were killed and 6,125 injured. At least 50,000 houses have collapsed completely or partially.
Point of Order awaits an announcement on humanitarian support for people affected by floods in Libya.
Entire districts of Derna, with an estimated population of at least 120,000, were swept away or buried in brown mud after two dams south of the city broke on Sunday night last week, unleashing torrents of floodwater down a usually dry riverbed.
According to a revised report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 3,958 people died and more than 9,000 people are still missing.
But no announcement on aid for Libya – or any other issue – since last Thursday does not mean the Beehive has gone into hibernation.
Point of Order has learned from sources other than its the government’s official website that Labour will double the number of houses with rooftop solar in New Zealand, to lower household power bills, reduce emissions and boost renewable electricity generation.
This was announced by “Labour leader” Chris Hipkins, who said:
“We need to increase renewable electricity generation by 68 per cent by 2050. Solar on roofs lowers bills, as well as generating electricity locally, reducing reliance on the grid.”
“I am absolutely focused on lowering household costs at the same time as driving New Zealand to become a global powerhouse of renewable energy. This plan does both of those things.”
Hipkins said this would be done through a fiscally responsible plan that contributes up to $4,000 towards installing rooftop solar panels at home – $2,000 towards the panels and $2,000 for a battery.
He provided further numbers:
“There are well over 40 thousand New Zealand homes getting cheaper, clean electricity with rooftop solar – this will more than double that with approximately 60 thousand more rooftop solar systems.
“Experience from projects funded through our Community Renewable Energy Fund shows household solar panels can reduce energy bills by up to 50%. That’s a saving of up to $850 a year.”
Described on this occasion as “Labour Energy spokesperson”, Megan Woods said the plan will put $20 million of new funding towards community energy projects to help boost energy generation, and put more renewable energy back into the grid, helping to lower the overall cost of energy nationwide.
“That funding will see new pilot programmes like mini urban solar farms, which provide revenue to those with spare commercial roof space by installing solar panels which feedback into the grid, trialled before being rolled out wider,” Megan Woods said.
“We will also fit 1,000 Kāinga Ora homes a year with solar panels, which will give financial relief to some of our lower income families by reducing monthly energy bills.
“With Transpower forecasting a 68 per cent increase in electricity generation needed to meet demand by 2050 we need to boost New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity to provide greater economic security.”
Today’s announcement builds on the success of the Clean Car Standard and Discount which has increased EV uptake by 35 per cent since 2017. And the funding of the more than 1300 EV charges, one in almost every New Zealand town.
“It’s further to BlackRock’s $2 billion fund and the work of New Zealand Green Investment Finance to accelerate investment in innovative and dynamic companies, new technologies and significant projects that create jobs,” Woods said.
The $2 billion fund was well and truly ballyhooed on August 8 when the PM and his Energy Minister announced news worthy of posting on the government’s website:
The Government has worked with BlackRock, one of the world’s largest investors in climate infrastructure and clean technology, to launch a $2 billion fund with the goal of making New Zealand one of the first countries in the world to reach 100% renewable electricity.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced the first of its kind New Zealand net zero Fund alongside Minister of Energy and Resources Megan Woods and representatives of BlackRock in Auckland today.
Chris Hipkins enthused:
“I’m absolutely stoked about what this means for Kiwi ingenuity in renewable energy; it shows that our ambitious climate targets have the world’s attention, and that they are good for the climate, good for the economy, and will help create highly skilled jobs.”
And:
“This is a game changer for the clean tech sector and another example of the pragmatic and practical steps the Government is taking to accelerate climate action while growing our economy,” Chris Hipkins said.
Megan Woods said the fund would accelerate New Zealand’s emissions reductions, with a particular focus on our path to 100% renewable electricity, enabling businesses to access greater pools of capital to develop and grow.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
Point of Order awaits an announcement on humanitarian support for people affected by floods in Libya.
Entire districts of Derna, with an estimated population of at least 120,000, were swept away or buried in brown mud after two dams south of the city broke on Sunday night last week, unleashing torrents of floodwater down a usually dry riverbed.
According to a revised report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 3,958 people died and more than 9,000 people are still missing.
But no announcement on aid for Libya – or any other issue – since last Thursday does not mean the Beehive has gone into hibernation.
Point of Order has learned from sources other than its the government’s official website that Labour will double the number of houses with rooftop solar in New Zealand, to lower household power bills, reduce emissions and boost renewable electricity generation.
This was announced by “Labour leader” Chris Hipkins, who said:
“We need to increase renewable electricity generation by 68 per cent by 2050. Solar on roofs lowers bills, as well as generating electricity locally, reducing reliance on the grid.”
“I am absolutely focused on lowering household costs at the same time as driving New Zealand to become a global powerhouse of renewable energy. This plan does both of those things.”
Hipkins said this would be done through a fiscally responsible plan that contributes up to $4,000 towards installing rooftop solar panels at home – $2,000 towards the panels and $2,000 for a battery.
He provided further numbers:
“There are well over 40 thousand New Zealand homes getting cheaper, clean electricity with rooftop solar – this will more than double that with approximately 60 thousand more rooftop solar systems.
“Experience from projects funded through our Community Renewable Energy Fund shows household solar panels can reduce energy bills by up to 50%. That’s a saving of up to $850 a year.”
Described on this occasion as “Labour Energy spokesperson”, Megan Woods said the plan will put $20 million of new funding towards community energy projects to help boost energy generation, and put more renewable energy back into the grid, helping to lower the overall cost of energy nationwide.
“That funding will see new pilot programmes like mini urban solar farms, which provide revenue to those with spare commercial roof space by installing solar panels which feedback into the grid, trialled before being rolled out wider,” Megan Woods said.
“We will also fit 1,000 Kāinga Ora homes a year with solar panels, which will give financial relief to some of our lower income families by reducing monthly energy bills.
“With Transpower forecasting a 68 per cent increase in electricity generation needed to meet demand by 2050 we need to boost New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity to provide greater economic security.”
Today’s announcement builds on the success of the Clean Car Standard and Discount which has increased EV uptake by 35 per cent since 2017. And the funding of the more than 1300 EV charges, one in almost every New Zealand town.
“It’s further to BlackRock’s $2 billion fund and the work of New Zealand Green Investment Finance to accelerate investment in innovative and dynamic companies, new technologies and significant projects that create jobs,” Woods said.
The $2 billion fund was well and truly ballyhooed on August 8 when the PM and his Energy Minister announced news worthy of posting on the government’s website:
The Government has worked with BlackRock, one of the world’s largest investors in climate infrastructure and clean technology, to launch a $2 billion fund with the goal of making New Zealand one of the first countries in the world to reach 100% renewable electricity.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced the first of its kind New Zealand net zero Fund alongside Minister of Energy and Resources Megan Woods and representatives of BlackRock in Auckland today.
Chris Hipkins enthused:
“I’m absolutely stoked about what this means for Kiwi ingenuity in renewable energy; it shows that our ambitious climate targets have the world’s attention, and that they are good for the climate, good for the economy, and will help create highly skilled jobs.”
And:
“This is a game changer for the clean tech sector and another example of the pragmatic and practical steps the Government is taking to accelerate climate action while growing our economy,” Chris Hipkins said.
Megan Woods said the fund would accelerate New Zealand’s emissions reductions, with a particular focus on our path to 100% renewable electricity, enabling businesses to access greater pools of capital to develop and grow.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
1 comment:
Would these 1000 Kainga Ora homes be the same ones that are yet to be brought up to Healthy Homes standards?
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