Keith Turner

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Dr Keith Turner BE (Hons), ME, PhD, is an influential New Zealand businessman. He has been Chief Executive of New Zealand electricity Generator and Retailer Meridian Energy since the company's inception in 1999. He has been a director of Auckland International Airport since 2004.

Keith Turner has worked in the New Zealand electricity industry since 1969. He has held positions as managing director of DesignPower, a professional engineering consultancy to the electricity industry. He was Chief Operating Officer of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand prior to its breakup in 1999.

Often outspoken, Keith Turner has a passion for New Zealand; for social, economic and environmental sustainability, and especially for renewable energy. In a defining speech The case for renewable generation in 2004 he said: "The choices we make – you and I and the rest of New Zealand – the choices we make over the next few years, are going to shape the energy structure of our society for at least the next one, and possibly the next two, generations".

Keith Turner notes that a viable transmission grid is an important ingredient of his renewable energy strategy. He has been critical of the lack of investment in the electricity transmission grid in New Zealand by the state-owned enterprise Transpower, and has been quick to comment in the media on occasions when grid reliability is called into question. In November 2005, he advised that "New Zealands electricity grid is so overworked that some lines cannot be taken out for servicing", which was vindicated in June 2006 when half of Auckland lost power during a storm, because an earth wire snapped and fell on switching equipment.

In November 2006, NZ Listener magazine placed Keith Turner in 12th position in its 2006 Power List of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, up from 42nd place in the 2005 Power List.[1]

[edit] References

• NZ Listener Power Broker. Retrieved July 24, 2006. (A feature interview with Keith Turner by Sarah Daniell, talking about his life, his company, and his passions for Renewable Energy and New Zealand.)
• Meridian Energy The case for renewable generation. Retrieved July 24, 2006. (A classic speech by Keith Turner, to the Wellington Rotary Club, November 22, 2004).
• Meridian Energy New Zealand Wind Energy Association Conference. Retrieved July 24, 2006. (A speech by Keith Turner to the New Zealand Wind Energy Association Conference, held on August 30, 2005).
• The Dominion Post News story, 15 June 2006 Expect more blackouts, Auckland told. Retrieved July 24, 2006. (News article that quotes Dr Turner commenting on Transmission issues following the Auckland power blackout)