Genesis Energy's Tekapo B Power Station. Photo: Genesis Energy
Genesis Energy has secured approval for the first renewable energy project in the coalition's fast track regime.
The gentailer lodged an application to continue operating and maintaining the Tekapo power scheme in April.
This included work on Tekapo A and B power stations and substations, and the canal system.
"A year into the process, Genesis indicated that further delays were likely due to the council hearing process and the potential for appeals," Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop said.
"Genesis then applied for fast-track on April 2025, with the process taking just 80 days once a panel was appointed."
Bishop said he was pleased the fast-track system was delivering approvals in key areas and giving large infrastructure projects certainty.
"Today's approval follows the approval of the Port of Auckland expansion, Maitahi Village development in Nelson, and the Milldale development in Auckland."
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the project was a great example of the fast-track regime speeding up consenting for vital infrastructure.
"The Tekapo power scheme generates enough clean electricity to power more than 228,000 Canterbury households, and it plays a vital role in keeping our grid reliable.
"There is absolutely no reason why such important projects should stay tangled up in red tape and economic progress should be constricted by bureaucratic nonsense.
"I'm looking forward to more applications going through the fast-track process to create jobs, regional prosperity and much-needed economic growth for New Zealand."
Both ministers were working on legislative changes to speed up the fast-track process, iron out problematic areas and get projects under way even faster, they said.
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