Dubbo Regional Council has taken another step to reduce its energy and carbon footprint by including a 100% Green Power option in a new electricity supply contract.
With Council's current Retail Electricity Supply Agreement for Small Sites set to expire on 31 December 2022, the new contract has been awarded to Shell Energy Retail Pty Ltd which will see savings of $120,000 annually. The 10-year contract was awarded at the July meeting of Council utilising a NSW Government-wide contract for electricity and will commence on 1 January 2023.
Dubbo Regional Council Mayor Mathew Dickerson said this was both a financial and environmental win for the community. "Based on current rates, by awarding the contract to Shell Energy Retail, Council will still save around $1.2 million over the life of the contract,'' he said.
Mr Dickerson said governments at all levels were taking action to reduce energy consumption and to cut greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of non-renewable energy sources.
"This contract is a positive outcome for Council and the community at large given the current price pressures on electricity supply, as it will significantly assist Council achieve its environmental sustainability objectives,'' he said.
Council's "Towards 2040 Community Strategic Plan" (CSP) includes six principal themes, with the Shell Energy Retail contract aligned to Environmental Sustainability.
"Under the 2040 Plan, Council is aiming to achieve net zero emissions by creating energy efficient, carbon neutral buildings and facilities that utilise renewable energy sources – and this contract is yet another step forward in that direction,'' Mr Dickerson said.
"More than 80 per cent of energy worldwide is supplied by fossil fuel energy sources and once they are consumed, they cannot be replenished,'' Mr Dickerson said. "Renewable energy is obtained from natural resources that can be continually replenished and Council's new, greener electricity supply contract is very much in line with that vision.
"It's very important that Council, at every opportunity, looks to reduce its energy and carbon footprint wherever feasible and cost-effective.''
