Port Taranaki chief executive Simon Craddock says the announcement yesterday by a consortium comprising BlueFloat Energy, Energy Estate, and Elemental Group to build a 900MW offshore wind farm off the coast of South Taranaki is “exciting and important for Taranaki and New Zealand”.
“This is fantastic news and we congratulate all those involved in working hard to make this a reality,” Mr Craddock said.
“This development is exciting and will be important for Taranaki and New Zealand as we transition to a low-emissions and renewable energy future.”
Mr Craddock said Port Taranaki had the facilities, skills, experience, and laydown and storage area to play a key supporting role throughout.
“Being the only deep-water port on the west coast, within close proximity to the production site, and with skills and experience developed from decades working with the energy industry, we’re looking forward to supporting this development throughout the construction phase and providing ongoing support during the operations and maintenance period,” he said.
“We’re thrilled that through this development Taranaki will play a key role in the emerging renewable energy industry, and the region will benefit through the creation of jobs and the utilisation of the mature and highly skilled engineering and energy sector we have here.”
Photo: Taranaki Regional Council chairperson Charlotte Littlewood, New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett, Stratford District mayor Neil Volzke, South Taranaki District mayor Phil Nixon, Partnerships director Justine Gilliland, Taranaki Chamber of Commerce CEO Arun Chaudhari, Venture Taranaki’s Anne Probert, Elemental Group director Brett Rogers, and Witt deputy chief executive Allie Hemara-Wahanui at the announcement of the offshore wind farm project, at Hāwera on Wednesday.
