Council has agreed to negotiate with two shortlisted providers for a 100% renewable electricity group Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for Northern Beaches businesses - a first for the area in tackling sky-rocketing energy costs.
A renewable electricity PPA is a contractual agreement between energy buyers and sellers which will directly benefit participating local businesses by offsetting their carbon emissions, scaling up their buying power whilst cutting time, complexity and costs associated with going it alone and ultimately generating real savings on their electricity bills.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said this is an amazing opportunity for the 32,700 businesses across the peninsula.
"Non-residential emissions account for 37% of the Northern Beaches community carbon emissions and of this more than 70% of emissions are from electricity.
"The negotiation process will identify which of the two models provides a better outcome for local businesses and presents minimal risk to Council.
"We are ambitiously working towards reduced emissions to net zero by 2030 and have formally committed to net zero by 2050 as outlined in our adopted Environment and Climate Change Strategy. This initiative will help us continue to reach our goal," he said.
An EOI was sought in November 2022 to understand options and different approaches in the marketplace.
Five applications were received with two suppliers successfully shortlisted. Council will now negotiate with these suppliers with the aim to enter into an agreement with one or more of these providers.
"We're a progressive community who care deeply for our environment. This opportunity will support local businesses to join forces, reduce their electricity bills and ultimately their carbon emissions - it's a great model and we're glad we can help get this initiative off the ground," Mayor Regan said.
Council's own Power Purchase Agreement is currently with Iberdrola, which owns the Bodangora Wind Farm in regional NSW where our offsets are sourced.
