Baw Baw Shire's move to 100% renewable energy sparks savings
Published on 24 January 2024
Baw Baw Shire Council is now sourcing 100% renewable energy for all of its major electricity contracts.
As of January this year, Council moved its Small Sites electricity contract across to the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO). Previous to this on 1 July 2022, Council approved for its Large Sites and Public Street Lighting electricity contracts to be renewed under the VECO contract until 30 December 2030. In the 2022-23 financial year, Council saved more than $50,000 under these two contracts.
Council's Small Sites electricity contract consists of 116 sites and includes buildings, public toilets, security (night watchmen) lights, fountain pumps and public BBQs.
VECO is the largest emissions reduction project ever undertaken by the local government sector in Australia. Fifty-one Victorian Councils have pooled their electricity needs into one long-term contract (eight-years) with Red Energy commencing in 2021. This contract provides VECO members with 100% renewable energy generated from wind farms in Victoria.
Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe said that the move demonstrates Council’s commitment to creating a brighter future for generations to come, and also acts upon Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2022 – 2030.
“Goal One of Council’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy is to ‘Reduce Energy Use and Emissions for Council’s operations and facilities,” Cr McCabe said.
“Transitioning Council's Small Sites contract over to VECO contributes to meeting this goal, through the provision of 100% renewable energy, subsequently having all of Council's main electricity contracts achieving zero carbon emissions.
“I am so proud of us as a Council, and for the hard work Council officers constantly put in to ensure that we are holding ourselves accountable and meeting the goals set out in our strategies, as well as the community’s expectations.”
By being part of the Victorian Energy Collaboration, each participating Council will pay less for their power than if sourced individually.
Every dollar saved is another that Council will put back into the Revolving Sustainability Fund, which will ensure that future cost savings are reinvested into the delivery of new sustainability projects, guaranteeing further savings and environmental benefits to Council and the community.
For more information, visit https://veco.org.au.