Solar power is coming to Northland
Lodestone Energy is planning to build five solar power farms, two of which will be located in Northland. Both Stuff and RNZ have published articles about this.
The first to go online will be in Kaitaia, with construction beginning later this year and completion in 2022, and provide 62GWh annually. Together with the upgraded and expanded geothermal generation at Ngawha, this will provide more energy than the Far North needs and hopefully bring power prices down in that region, which are among the highest in the country. Any excess energy generated will benefit the rest of Northland, and once another solar farm at Dargaville has been added by the end of 2023, much of Northland will be on 100% renewable and locally produced electricity.
Let's get ready for this and support this development with getting off fossil fuels and switching to electricity over the next two to three years. Need a small car that takes us to town and back, or to commute to work, or drive the kids around? Get a used electric vehicle. Still heating the home with wood fire like in the 1800s? Get a heat pump with its three times higher heating efficiency. Gas stove getting old and needing replacement? Switch to an induction cooktop. Want to become part of the renewable electricity grid? Pop rooftop solar on, and a storage battery in the garage or shed. There are so many ways to electrify and increase our energy efficiency, and Gen Less has all the resources we need to learn about it. Also, there's no need for knee-jerk action or panic - we can do all this when opportunities present themselves, like special offers, subsidies, rental and subscription programs with no capital required, or just a great bargain. This decade will bring a lot of progress and changes in the home energy space. Just let's be open-minded, keep our eyes and ears open, tell each other about it, and take action when we can.
Poll: Does the building consent process need to change?
We definitely need homes that are fit to live in but there are often frustrations when it comes to getting consent to modify your own home.
Do you think changes need made to the current process for building consent? Share your thoughts below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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91.4% Yes
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8.1% No
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0.5% Other - I'll share below!
Whangarei Film Society - screenings for Thursday May 9th
Good People
Please note: There are NO screenings by WFS at Forum North on Thursday 2nd May due to the venue being unavailable.
But on Thursday, 9th May at 6pm, WFS will be screening a behind-the-scenes doco on the greatest racing driver of his time, Sir Jackie Stewart.
Our 8pm screening will be the film version of the best-selling book, Are you there God? It's me, Margaret.
JACKIE STEWART
UK, 2023, Documentary, 95 mins
This documentary shines a light on Formula 1 World Champion, team owner and legend of the sport, Sir Jackie Stewart.
Using previously unseen footage, Sir Jackie’s life is detailed from his early years in Scotland, to the rush of his first F1 World Championship title in 1969.
Stewart's fame and success was followed by tumultuous times when, despite opposition from those who wanted F1 to be ‘gladiatorial’, Stewart set out to improve racing safety for drivers and pit crews.
"Whether you're a new fan or a lifelong F1 fanatic, this stunning documentary is worth your time." - Race Fans Magazine
View the trailer at: www.youtube.com...
Tickets: Door sales only. Price: $10 for WFS members, $15 for non members.
Cash only please - no Eftpos/credit card services available.
Visit whangareifilmsociety.org and sign up for our free weekly email for information on the rest of our films and screening dates for 2024.
Lest we forget...
On this ANZAC Day, let's take a moment to remember and honor the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.
Tell us who are you honouring today. Whether it's a story from the battlefield or a memory of a family member who fought in the war, we'd love you to share your stories below.
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