Wyndham council says it has saved more than half a million dollars in the 18 months ago since participating in the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO).
The collaboration involved 51 Victorian councils who aimed to reduce energy bills and emissions by using renewable energy generated from wind farms in Victoria.
Approximately 172,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions have been saved by councils in the first 12 months, which council says is equivalent to powering up to 35,000 homes or taking 66,000 cars off the road each year.
Wyndham mayor Susan McIntyre said the project supported council’s commitments under the Resilient Wyndham Strategy.
“All the operations of Wyndham City that rely on electricity, are powered by 100% renewable energy, including street lights, libraries, leisure centres and electric vehicles,” she said.
“This is essential in achieving our goal of net zero council emissions by 2023.”
Since entering into the VECO project, Wyndham council says it has saved on its electricity bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15,000 tonnes.
Council’s climate futures and environment portfolio holder Councillor Robert Szatkowski said the project showed the value of collaboration in local government, given the financial and environmental savings of the project.
“The renewable energy is being provided by two wind farms in Victoria — Dundonnell Wind Farm near Mortlake, which started exporting power to the grid in March 2020, and Murra Warra II Wind Farm near Horsham, which started exporting power in February 2022,” he said.
Council said the collective investment in Victorian renewables has delivered electricity that is 25 per cent cheaper over the first 12 months of the contract and the long-term contract with energy provider Red Energy will continue to protect councils from high wholesale prices in the coming years and help to increase the stability of the state’s energy system.
