Switching to green power

UNLIKE other levels of government, which can continue to lift their levels of debts, councils have limited budgets to work with.

But our focus on efficiencies stretches further than our finances.

To be efficient – and sustainable – we need to extract the most value from our precious resources – which are not only our funds, but our people and our environment.

It means not only do we need be impactful with our spending; we must enhance our built and natural assets; and curb our carbon footprint.

We know that the positive effect we have today, will help us maintain our community’s quality of life over the longer term.

Of the many projects we’ve initiated in line with this ethos, the most impactful has been our complete switch to renewable energy in 2021.

We have eliminated all carbon emissions associated with our electricity use at City buildings and facilities, slashing both our bills and our environmental impact.

To secure the most competitive renewables contract, we partnered with about 50 other Victorian councils on a nine-and-a-half-year deal with Red Energy.

The contract will protect us from wholesale price rises and help achieve our goal of becoming a net zero carbon organisation.

On the back of the success of this council alliance model, we have now joined a similar initiative that aims to help local businesses make their own switch to renewables.

Greater Geelong is among more than 50 Victorian municipalities to create a Business Renewables Buyers Group.

By forming a collective and consolidating demand, there are more options and price benefits on offer.

The group will be supported by an external facilitator to enter into a long-term agreement to purchase electricity generated by a solar farm or wind farm.

Participating businesses will reduce their environmental impact, save money, secure long-term and stable pricing and reduce their exposure to energy market volatility.

If we want to reach net zero, then businesses and residents need to be supported to achieve their own goals, and contribute to our shared success.

The Business Renewables Buyers Group is just one of the ways that Council is helping the region’s business sector, and wider community, to be more sustainable.

Via our Climate Change Partnership Grants, we are backing a range of community-led projects and activities.

Among the local groups to receive funding is 100% Clean Bellarine, which has its own plan to see the Bellarine Peninsula solely use renewable energy.

Through one of its initiatives, 100% Clean Bellarine is offering free energy assessments to businesses in Ocean Grove, to highlight the cost-benefit of switching to all electric appliances and green power.

Other organisations, such as Geelong Sustainability, are also doing great work in educating and informing the community in the options that are available to them.

Our community is stronger together, and by pooling our resources and buying power, we can more effectively deliver the longer-term changes that are needed.

 

Cr Trent Sullivan

Mayor,

City of Greater Geelong