Do you know that Council has switched to 100% renewable electricity?
Murrindindi Shire Council is one of 46 Victorian councils to sign on to the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), the largest ever emissions reduction project by local government in Australia and a huge step forward in combating climate change.
VECO, led by Darebin City Council in Melbourne's north, will provide 45% of all Victorian councils' electricity requirements with renewable energy.
As of January 2022, all our Council electricity accounts switched to renewable electricity, reducing our emissions by 13% every year. This is equivalent to taking 185 cars off the road and takes us closer to our goal of net zero emissions by 2035. This has been possible through an agreement signed directly with the supplier, where in addition to reducing our carbon footprint we have been able to secure a lower cost by using clean renewable energy generated right here in Victoria.
How does VECO work?
In the past we were buying fossil fuelled electricity on short-term contracts that only lasted a few years. Now we have joined a group of councils to pool our energy needs into one long-term renewable contract. The power produced by Murra Warra II and Dundonnell wind farms does not come directly to our buildings, it goes into the national electricity grid, but our contribution means more renewable energy in the grid and less need for fossil fuels like coal and gas.
For every megawatt of renewable energy we purchase, we also get what's called a Large Scale Generation Certificate. These LGCs prove this renewable energy was made specifically for us. This means that our electricity is 100% renewable and emission-free.
Council also meets much of our own energy needs on site through 130kw of solar panels installed on our buildings across the Shire.
Council is glad to be part of the global transition away from fossil fuels that is needed for a safe climate.
