WA councils embark on nation-leading renewable energy deal

Fifty-one Western Australian local governments will sign up for what is thought to be the nation’s largest joint renewable energy deal.

The agreement to deliver 100 percent renewable energy to the 51 councils has been negotiated by the Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA).

It is the
first renewables and carbon offset aggregation project to be granted
authorisation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The group will purchase energy from three WA wind farms at Albany, Emu Downs, and Collgar.

The 51 local
Governments have until 18 November to formalise their participation in the
project, which will lead to potential savings in energy costs of around $5 million annually.

WALGA
President (and ALGA vice-president) Tracey Roberts said the agreement had been
developed with a steering group comprising senior representatives from a number
of local governments.

“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,” Mayor Roberts said.

In January, the ACCC granted the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and 48 Victorian councils an 11-year authorisation to pool their electricity needs and tender for the supply of retail electricity services and renewable energy certificates.

The ACCC
said: “the joint buying of electricity would be likely to result in public
benefits including transaction cost savings, promoting increased competition
for the supply of energy to the applicants and environmental benefits”.