12. Question No. 12—Energy and ResourcesJONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesQuestion No. 12—Energy and Resources12. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Does she stand by all her Government's policies statements and actions in relation to the energy and resources portfolio?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Acting Minister of Energy and Resources): Yes in the context in which they were made. Jonathan Young: What policies or actions is the Government considering in addressing potential electricity supply shortages because of hydro lake levels being at an eight-year low and current gas supply disruption? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well this Government doesn't accept the predictions of an insecure energy supply as a result of this policy. Our strategic direction is to encourage a shift towards renewable energy so we can successfully transition to a low-carbon future. There's currently approximately 3300 megawatts of renewable energy generation consented to be built. Transpower's Te Mauri Hiko report shows that as our electricity demand grows heavily in the years to come those consents will be able to come on stream to add capacity. There are a number of other major investments currently on the way particularly in the area of renewable energy. Jonathan Young: Will therefore the Government guarantee there is no risk of power blackouts because of current low hydro levels and gas supply disruption? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: We won't guarantee anything but we will do our best to provide the political courage and the leadership—the willingness to look beyond the three-year electoral cycle—to ensure that this country makes a just and speedy transition to a post-carbon economy. Jonathan Young: What is the Government doing to ensure adequate gas supplies to businesses like Fonterra who are coming into their peak production in the next few weeks considering the current gas supply disruption?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well there are 100000 square kilometres of offshore prospecting still in place—SPEAKER: Order! Order! I'm going to ask the member to ask his question again.Jonathan Young: Thank you Mr Speaker. What is the Government doing to ensure adequate gas supplies to businesses like Fonterra who are coming into their peak production in the next few weeks considering the current gas supply disruption?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well there are a number of very short-term impediments to supply in the current climate. That's a completely separate issue to the need for this country to transition to renewable energy sources and we have the policies in place to do that.Jonathan Young: Point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: No—just ask it again.Jonathan Young: Ask it again? What is the Government doing to ensure adequate gas supplies to businesses like Fonterra who are coming into their peak production in the next few weeks considering the current gas supply disruption?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I haven't been briefed on that particular issue so I can't give the member a detailed answer on that.Jonathan Young: Is it the Government's intention to support use of coal-fired generation to stop power blackouts if gas is no longer plentifully available as is currently the case?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: No it's not because we believe that there is perfectly adequate generation consented coming on stream for renewable electricity sources. I would point to the fact that Genesis and Tilt Renewables have just announced that they intend to partner in the development of a 100-megawatt windfarm at Waverley and last month the Eastland Group commissioned an additional 25 megawatts of geothermal power at Kawerau which is now providing baseload renewable energy to New Zealand's grid.