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City of Kwinana joins WALGA renewable energy agreement to reduce emissions

Hannah CrossSound Telegraph
Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams.
Camera IconKwinana Mayor Carol Adams. Credit: Chris Kershaw Photography/Chris Kershaw Photography

The City of Kwinana council has unanimously voted to join a local government renewable energy agreement which could see the city’s total emissions reduced by up to 73 per cent for the financial year.

The Western Australian Local Government Association recently negotiated an agreement that has the potential to deliver 100 per cent renewable power to 51 councils across the State should they adopt it.

The agreement is the first renewables and carbon offset aggregation project authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The Kwinana council adopted the Energy Sustainability Renewables Project on November 10, with Cr Dennis Wood quipping in chambers the move was a “damn good idea”.

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The council has the potential to save up to $243,000 per year across the initial three-year agreement.

Mayor Carol Adams said progressing the agreement is a “key action” in the city’s Climate Change Plan 2021-25, which builds on Kwinana’s Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plan 2015-20. The 2015-20 Plan saw a 30.2 per cent reduction in the city’s emissions over five years.

“Sustainability and environmental protection are fundamental aspects of the city’s Strategic Community Plan and Kwinana’s residents are incredibly passionate about environmental outcomes,” she said.

Under the agreement, renewable energy will be sourced from three WA wind farms in Emu Downs, Albany and Collgar near Merredin.

WALGA president, City of Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts, said the enthusiasm for the project has been outstanding.

“There is a genuine appetite in the local government sector to lead the way on zero emissions and the shift to renewable energy is a giant step in the right direction,” she said.

WA local governments have until Thursday to formally sign up to the project.

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