The go ahead has been given for tidal power generators to be put into Kaipara Harbour.

Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson has signed off on an application made by Crest Energy for 200 tidal turbine units to be installed in the waterway.

She says it’s the first large scale application to tidal power generation and has significant potential.

“If we can provide power in this way to 250,000 houses and have minimal environmental impact, then I think it’s an exciting start,” she told Newstalk ZB.

Kate Wilkinson says potential environmental impacts of the project have been carefully worked through and she believes any possible problems can be monitored and accounted for.

– NewstalkZB

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