What policies do you have to support individuals and businesses to move towards clean energy options, e.g. solar, wind, hydrogen, electric vehicles?

National

Our policy has yet to be released but will be closer to the election.

Labour

Labour is committed to transforming Zealand’s energy sector to one based on clean energy. This will mean transitioning to a carbon-neutral economy, with 100% renewable electricity generation, and decarbonisation of transport and industrial heat. 

For example, we’ve established the $100 million Green Investment Fund to help shift private investment towards the zero carbon economy. We’re investing in green hydrogen refuelling stations across the country. We’re trialling innovative renewable energy technology, such as solar panels and batteries, across public and Māori housing – testing new ways of generating power at a local level, and integrating into local electricity networks. And, we’ve also invested through the Low Emissions Vehicle Contestable Fund, which is delivering more infrastructure for low emissions transport. Labour will continue to build on our progress in this area.

Greens

When all our energy comes from the sun, the wind, and the flow of rivers, there will be no need to burn coal or import oil. In Government, the Green Party achieved a historic ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration. We’ve put solar panels on school roofs, and started swapping old coal boilers in schools and hospitals for clean alternatives. Our Government has funded the development of a nationwide hydrogen fuelling network for heavy vehicles and started to swap the government’s car fleet to EVs.  But there is more to be done. The Green Party will:

• Bring forward the Government’s target for 100% renewable electricity from 2035 to 2030, and re-instate the ban on building new fossil-fuel electricity generation.
• Equip all suitable public housing with solar panels and batteries, saving people on their power bills and enabling them to share clean energy with their neighbours.
• Make it 50% cheaper for everyone to upgrade to solar and batteries for their own homes, with government finance.
• Create a community Clean Energy Fund to support communities, iwi, and hapū to build and share low-cost, clean energy.
• Train thousands of people for clean energy careers with a Clean Energy Industry Training Plan, developed with the energy industry, training providers, and unions.
• Ban new fossil-fuelled industrial heating systems and boilers in our first 100 days in Government, end coal use in Aotearoa by 2030, and end industrial gas use by 2035.
• Increase financial and advisory support for businesses to replace fossil fuels with clean energy alternatives.
• Update planning rules to make it easier to build new wind farms.
• Encourage time of use pricing options for major electricity retailers, and encourage local generation and energy storage instead of building more poles and wires.