- Miles Government and Ipswich City Council join forces to deliver better outcomes for locals
- Publicly owned energy company reaches deal to power Ipswich City Council facilities with 100 per cent renewable energy
Ipswich City Council infrastructure will be powered by renewable energy thanks to a landmark deal struck with publicly-owned generation company CleanCo Queensland.
The agreement, which kicks off on 1 October 2024, is yet another demonstration of how the Miles Government's investments in renewable energy are supporting Queensland communities to embrace the energy transformation and reduce carbon emissions.
The contract will enable Ipswich City Council to power 100 per cent of its major buildings and streetlights from renewable sources, significantly reducing the city's carbon footprint and marking a pivotal moment in its sustainability journey.
Supported by the Dulacca and Kaban wind farms and backed by CleanCo's highly flexible firming assets like Wivenhoe Pumped Hydro Power Station, Ipswich residents can rest assured that their streetlights and major Council infrastructure is supported by renewable energy.
CleanCo's Swanbank Clean Energy Hub, which will soon be home to the Swanbank Battery, exemplifies the state's commitment to innovative and sustainable energy solutions in Ipswich and across the state.
As stated by the Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs Mick de Brenni:
"Queensland is acting to keep prices down and expand its clean energy future through the Miles Government's Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
"We're ensuring the benefits of our plan for Queensland delivers energy security for local communities.
"The Miles Government's vision and newly legislated targets for renewable energy and decarbonisation has meant initiatives like this landmark deal will contribute to better outcomes for all communities.
"Locals should be proud to know that when they walk down the main street of Ipswich, all major Council buildings and lights are powered by renewables."
As stated by Member for Bundamba Minister Lance McCallum:
"This deal proves what we can achieve when we back local jobs and publicly owned energy.
"This deal is lighting up a bright future for Ipswich with our Big Build of renewable energy, and it's happening right here at our local Swanbank Clean Energy Hub.
"The workers at Swanbank Power Station are at the heart of this transformation; they're not just keeping the lights on in Ipswich, they're powering our city's future with clean, renewable energy.
"Queensland's Big Build of renewable energy is delivering results – from job creation to sustainable power solutions for communities like ours, and it's Swanbank setting the nation's pace.
"Labor is not just talking about a clean energy future; we're delivering it, right here in Bundamba."
As stated by Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding:
"Ipswich City Council is delighted to partner with CleanCo to deliver one of our major sustainability goals of 50 per cent emissions reduction, by powering our major council buildings and thousands of streetlights with renewable energy.
"This partnership will switch almost 30,000 streetlights over to renewable energy, while powering our major facilities such as council's administration building, Ipswich Central Library and Art Gallery.
"Knowing that CleanCo is operating right here in Swanbank will further cement our commitment to delivering sustainable, climate-friendly initiatives for our city.
"Reducing council's carbon emissions will deliver real benefits for our city, and continue our focus on delivering council's Sustainability Strategy 2021-2026.
"I'm delighted that we have reached this agreement with CleanCo and look forward to our city being lit by renewable energy."
As stated by CleanCo CEO Tom Metcalfe:
"We are thrilled to partner with Ipswich City Council to support their ambitious sustainability goals.
"This agreement with Ipswich City Council is a testament to CleanCo's mission to lead the decarbonisation of Queensland's energy sector while fostering economic growth and job creation in local communities.
"Our investment in renewable energy projects across Queensland, including the 250MW, two-hour Swanbank Battery in Ipswich, means we are poised to provide reliable and sustainable energy that aligns with our customers' goals and contributes to a clean energy future.
"We are proud to support Ipswich City Council as more communities right across Queensland seek opportunities to decarbonise as we move towards a net zero future."
