“Low hydro lakes, high petrol prices, no more Maui gas; there’s always something to talk about on the energy front. The hard thing is to see beyond the issue of the moment to our longer term energy future,” said Hodgson when releasing the government’s “Sustainable Energy” discussion document today.

“When we are preoccupied with where oil prices might go next year, or where our electricity will come from in ten years, how do we think clearly about the energy system we will need in 20 or 50 years?” he asked.

Two “huge” challenges - the coming peak in global oil production and climate change - would force the development of a radically different energy system sometime this century. There were no simple, easy solutions as sustainable energy would have to be affordable, secure and environmentally responsible.

The starting place was not with supply but with energy demand, making smarter energy choices. The global transition away from fossil fuels would have to be phased, deliberate and timely.

“New Zealand’s abundant energy resources, coupled with our history of innovation and adaptability, position us well for the future.

“We begin the transition to more sustainable energy from the unusual position of having both more renewable energy and lower energy prices than most countries.

“This creates opportunities for us to be a provider of sustainable energy solutions to the world.”

Hodgson said the “Sustainable Energy” document was designed as the focal point for six months of consultation, from which a formal sustainable energy policy would flow.