Good riddance?

It sounds like the regime is having second thoughts about its stupid plan for an LNG terminal:

The Government’s plan to build a liquefied natural gas import terminal in Taranaki to reduce electricity prices is in doubt.

A decision on the type of terminal and who will build it is due mid-year, but ministers are considering using that decision to rethink the project, potentially delaying it – or axing it.

Multiple Beehive sources say skyrocketing liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, driven by the war in the Middle East, have changed the economics behind the idea.

[...]

However, the final decision, multiple ministers privately admit, may be to walk away from the project entirely, given the high prices.

Good riddance. It was always a stupid plan, more expensive than simply reducing gas demand, while leaving us dependant on imported fuel which could simply disappear in a crisis. And that's exactly what happened! There is a crisis, the LNG has disappeared, and its likely to stay gone for a long time (and longer the more National's "ally" Donald Trump fucks around). Those risks were always there of course, but they've happened quickly enough for the government to actually change its mind at least.

So what's the alternative? A mix of demand reduction - investing in electrifying industry to get it off gas - and building renewables to increase supply. That's perfectly do-able, and for only a fraction of the cost of National's $2.7 billion boondoggle. Of course, its not what the gas industry wants, so the question is whether the regime will be sensible, or continue to listen to its donors, even when everyone can see that what they want is total stupidity.