Budget To Increase Energy Hardship
Budget 2025 delays our transition to a low emissions and low-cost energy network, this will put even more pressure on households, businesses and the climate.
'This Budget doesn't leave enough to keep the lights on, let alone spark the transition towards a low-emissions and low-cost electricity network,' says the Green Party's Spokesperson for Energy, Scott Willis.
'Stripping $56 million from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority comes on top of last year's vicious cut. This cut is effectively delivering energy hardship to those who are already struggling.
'Aotearoa can be a country where every home is powered with clean, green affordable energy that lowers our emissions and lowers costs on households. However, this will require action and ambition, something that is completely missing in this Budget.
'A meagre $2 million for households to counter energy hardship is a joke when we know there's some 110,000 households doing it tough.
'Since the Government has come into power we have seen the preservation of an energy market that prioritises profit and fossil fuels over our communities and the climate. This Budget further cements that direction and opens the door wide open to more fossil fuelled climate disasters.
'A Green Government would separate the gentailers that are dominating the energy market and invest $4.8 billion in renewables over four years directly in new renewable energy and storage to benefit both people and planet in the long and short term. We can have cleaner, cheaper, smarter power with the right political will.
'Through a mix of grants and interest-free loans, our Green Budget would create a Clean Power Payment to help people cover the upfront cost of zero carbon upgrades and energy efficiency.
'It's not inevitable that thousands of people have to choose between heating and eating. Our energy network needs to work for us, instead of serving shareholders.
'We can build a more sustainable and affordable energy network that puts people and planet before the profits of our gentailers,' says Scott Willis.
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