From:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dailyne...5a6554,00.html

Greenhouse gas plan riles glasshouse owners

FRIDAY , 04 JULY 2003

By KRYSTI WETTON

The owners of Taranaki's largest tomato growing business have joined angry
farmers in their protest over proposed taxes aimed at reducing gas
emissions.

Shaun and Lorena Brannigan say their business in Patea could close if the
Government imposes a carbon charge.

Last year, the Government signed the Kyoto protocol and is committed to
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

It plans to impose a carbon charge on coal, gas, electricity, oil, diesel
and petrol from 2007.

The agriculture industry has been exempted from the charge, but the
Government plans to levy sheep, cattle and deer farmers to fund research to
reduce gas emissions.

The Brannigans own 6400m? of hi-tech glasshouses that are run on gas and
plan to build another 3400m? glasshouse soon.

A 3400m? operation would cost on average $10,500 more a year if the proposed
$25-a-tonne carbon charge was introduced, Mr Brannigan said.

"If you tax us too much the industry will tip over."

About 20% of on-site operating costs in a heated greenhouse business were
from energy use, he said. "Because it's a major cost, we're committed to
becoming energy effective and if the tax is introduced, we'll have less
money to improve energy efficiency."

He said the fruit and vegetable industry was unable to pass on the extra
cost to consumers, which would have a severe impact on the viability of the
sector.

There would also be increased transport costs and job loses, he said.

"It won't just affect us - a lot of people don't realise the cost of living
is going to go up."

Martin Harvey, a senior manager for the Government's Climate Change Office,
said industries could apply for an exemption from the carbon charge if they
met the "competitiveness at risk" criteria.

"We would acknowledge they (greenhouse industry) are a significant energy
user and there may be competitiveness at risk issues."

Funding incentives for businesses wanting to reduce emissions and energy use
are also available.

Mr Harvey said revenue from the charge would be put back into the economy.

A $25-a-tonne carbon charge would increase the price of petrol by about 6c
per litre, he said.

He said the Climate Change Office wanted to ensure its policy did not create
competitiveness problems for businesses.

"The issues of concern to them are of concern to us too."

He said a climate change policy for small and medium enterprises should be
released for consultation at the end of the year.

New Zealand Vegetable and Potato Growers' Federation (Vegfed) executive
officer Ken Robertson said the federation would wait to see the policy
before deciding on what action to take.

"We really want some answers now, and right now we're not getting them," Mr
Robertson said. "They do recognise there's an issue, they just don't know
how to deal with it."

He said the industry could lose more than $2 million a year if the proposed
carbon charge was introduced.

It would allow importers, mainly from Australia, to compete more with New
Zealand producers, he said.

Growers who use coal to heat their glasshouses could expect a 50% rise in
costs and gas users up to 20%.

A group of Taranaki farmers has threatened to drive a convoy of tractors and
silage bins along the Wellington motorway to protest against the proposed
levy to fund research.

"Dr. Convection" <Convection@convection.ca> wrote in message
news:cp7Oa.376597$ro6.9149912@news2.calgary.shaw.c a...
> From:
> http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dailyne...5a6554,00.html
>
> Greenhouse gas plan riles glasshouse owners
>
> FRIDAY , 04 JULY 2003
>
> By KRYSTI WETTON
>
> The owners of Taranaki's largest tomato growing business have joined angry
> farmers in their protest over proposed taxes aimed at reducing gas
> emissions.
>
> Shaun and Lorena Brannigan say their business in Patea could close if the
> Government imposes a carbon charge.


Obviously they are good fanatics but bad business people. Shutting down a
business is stupid. It will accomplish nothing positive except to expose
their limitations.