Max coal usage

New Zealand used more than a million tonnes of coal in the first six months of this year, to supplement our electricity generation. Why are we still burning coal? I blame National’s Max Bradford and his freemarket power sector reforms of the late 1990s.

New Zealand was never big enough to handle the resulting fragmentation – from one government body to many, privatised, profit-driven power companies. None of them will ever be big enough to fund for themselves the huge alternative hydro, wind and solar infrastructure needed to replace the coal-burning dinosaur we currently rely on when lakes are low.

There will have to be a combined investment programme, contributed to by all the power companies. Will the shareholders be willing to forgo their dividend payouts for the sake of the planet? Are the chief executives prepared to take a salary cut? Will the directors be prepared to forgo their bonuses?

I sincerely doubt it. But don’t blame this government. Blame the Bradford reforms.

Clyde Scott, Auckland