Transpower wrong on GHG emissions

Transpower is circumventing Government policy and not being a good corporate citizen, Green Party climate change spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham said today.

Transpower have been forced to reveal that they are stockpiling a Greenhouse gas pollutant so that they can dodge paying for their emissions under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) next year.

"State Owned Enterprises are required by legislation to exhibit a sense of social responsibility," said Dr Graham.

"Circumventing the law is not responsible.

"Transpower's argument that they are reducing the cost for consumers is wrong - someone has to pay for our greenhouse gas emissions. If polluters dodge their obligations then the taxpayer picks up the bill.

"Transpower should be concentrating on reducing emissions rather than finding ways to game the system.

"New Zealand's ETS is weak, it needs to be strengthened so that Transpower and other greenhouse gas polluters are not able to pass the cost of their pollution to the taxpayer," said Dr Graham.