USA - US wind energy president to head of New Zealand Wind Energy Association

The New Zealand Wind Energy Association today announced the appointment of Roby Roberts as the next Chief Executive of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association. Mr Roberts has spent over 15 years working on energy issues and is the current president of the American Wind Energy Association. For the last four years he has been Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs for PPM Energy in Portland Oregon, a company with over 1500 MW of wind energy in its portfolio. The Chairman of the New Zealand Wind Energy Association, Murray Kennedy, said the Board was delighted they had been able to appoint Mr Roberts to head the New Zealand Wind Energy Association. “Mr Roberts brings operational and policy experience in the biggest wind market in the world, to a country which has the best wind profile in the world.

“Mr Robert’s experience will be a major help to the New Zealand sector because wind energy here has only recently become mainstream. The challenge now is to adjust to being a permanent part of the energy mix,” Mr Kennedy said. Total wind capacity in New Zealand is now 170 MW – enough to power 75,000 homes. A further 70 MW has been consented in the last few months, a further 170 MW is currently awaiting consent and hundreds more MW are being planned. Mr Kennedy said stable and consistent Government policy in the energy sector was critical to ongoing investment in new generation. “The Government must make sure its policies include a place for wind energy, because our sector is expected to contribute at least 20% of the supply needed to meet growing demand in this country. “Wind energy is now in a position where it can compete on every front with any other form of electricity generation. Roby Roberts will help us do just that,” he said. Mr Roberts will take up his position in early June.