Balancing the rising demand for clean energy with conservation of our natural resources is important to investors in Green Century’s International Index Fund, which includes Meridian Energy of New Zealand.
The company generates 30 percent of New Zealand’s electricity from the clean energy sources of wind, sun, and water. Meridian owns and operates seven hydro power stations, six wind farms and supports many residential and commercial solar operations. Meridian also helps reduce driver’s reliance on fossil fuels by building one of the country’s largest EV networks with more than 300 charging points.
Meridian has a goal of halving its carbon emissions without resorting to buying carbon credits overseas and has initiatives to support biodiversity, climate action and water management.
For example, when Meridian’s Te Uku Wind Farm was completed in 2010, roughly 40,000 native plants were planted to help absorb stormwater and filter water downstream. The company has worked to restore riparian habitat for waterways impacted by dams. For forests, the company has a goal of planting 1.5 million seedlings in the next five years to help absorb carbon. Those trees are a mix of natives and exotics – the exotic trees pull carbon and create a canopy that help shelter the natives as they grow.
Meridian is one of the companies in Green Century’s International Index Fund and strives to create renewable energy for homes, farms and businesses across New Zealand.