Geelong council and three neighbouring municipalities have joined the largest-ever emissions reduction project by local government in Australia, finalised this week.
The Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO) will provide 46 councils, including the Surf Coast and Gold Plains shires, and the Borough of Queenscliffe, with 100 per cent renewable electricity until 2030.
Geelong council expects to save up to 22 per cent on its electricity bills through the “ground-breaking” venture.
Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said council would use renewables for 100 per cent of its energy use by joining VECO.
“As the biggest partner in this collective agreement, we are leading the way on taking meaningful action on climate change,” Cr Asher said.
“This long-term deal will power our street lights, libraries, leisure centres and council facilities, while reducing emissions and keeping costs low.”
VECO will help council meet its target of having carbon-neutral council-managed operations by 2025, according to City Hall.
Under the project Red Energy will provide an estimated 240 gigawatt hours of electricity to 46 councils each year beginning July.
The renewable energy will come from a windfarm near Mortlake, operating since March 2020, and another near Horsham under construction and due to open in June 2022.
Geelong council signed up to VECO in 2019, but Red Energy on Wednesday announced the finalisation of all contracts for the project.
Surf Coast deputy mayor Liz Pattison also welcomed the deal, saying it would save the shire about 35 per cent on electricity bills.
This equates to estimated ratepayer savings of more than $200,000 a year and $2.5 million over the life of the contract, according to the shire.
“Council is committed to the climate emergency response and we are very proud to be part of this collaborative action,” Cr Pattison said.
“Not only will we be helping to reduce emissions as a sector, but also recording significant savings on our business-as-usual electricity costs.”
Surf Coast Shire expects to buy 2.3 gigawatt hours of electricity through VECO each year, reducing its annual carbon dioxide emissions by 2450 tonnes – about 15.5 per cent.
VECO has been coordinated by Darebin City Council, in Melbourne’s north.
