Mt Cass Wind Farm Receives Resource Consent

The Environment Court has approved a resource consent for MainPower’s proposed wind farm on Mt Cass in North Canterbury.

Managing Director Allan Berge said the decision provided the opportunity for a substantial addition to the generation of renewable energy for North Canterbury and Kaikoura – the wind farm could produce up to 40 percent of the region’s electricity needs.

“This is an area with significant sustainable generation resources, but no significant generation of any kind. Mt Cass gives us the opportunity to improve the security of supply for our region as well as contributing to national goals for renewable energy.”

Mr Berge said MainPower was particularly pleased the Environment Court had recognised the substantial positive impact the development could have on the biodiversity of Mt Cass.

“This is the result of a lot of hard work by our team in understanding the impacts of the development on native plant and animal life on Mt Cass, and how we could work to not just limit the impacts but, in fact, improve the situation.

“It is also pleasing that as a community-owned company, MainPower has the opportunity to develop a project that will make a significant economic contribution to the region.”

No date has been set to commence construction of the Mt Cass wind farm.