Dubbo Regional Council | April 01, 2020
Dubbo Regional Council is now a member of the Cities Power Partnership program, joining forces with councils across the country in an effort to accelerate Australia’s transition to a renewable energy future, and ultimately slash greenhouse gas pollution and tackle worsening climate change.
The Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership program is Australia’s largest local government climate alliance with 125 member councils. Over one third of all NSW councils are members, including Albury, Bathurst, Orange, Parkes and Wagga Wagga.
Mayor of the Dubbo Region, Councillor Ben Shields said that joining the Cities Power Partnership was an important step in helping the Dubbo Region to transition to a renewable energy future and would assist Council with implementing its recently adopted Energy Strategy & Implementation Plan 2020 – 2025 for its operations.
“Those who join the Cities Power Partnership are supported to undertake five key actions across renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport and community support. I am proud to join the hundreds of shires, towns and cities across Australia that are switching to clean energy, building resilient communities, and ultimately cutting greenhouse gas pollution,” Councillor Shields said.
Councils taking part in the Cities Power Partnership program pledge to undertake five key actions to help reduce greenhouse gas pollution and tackle climate change locally, including ramping up renewable energy and planning sustainable transport systems. In the Dubbo Region, Council has selected the following five actions, all of which are identified in Council’s recently adopted Energy Strategy & Implementation Plan 2020 – 2025. The actions include:
- Install renewable energy (solar PV and battery storage) on council buildings
- Power council operations by renewable energy, and set targets to increase the level of renewable power for council operations over time.
- Create a revolving green energy fund to finance renewable energy projects.
- Adopt best practice energy efficiency measures across all council buildings, and support community facilities to adopt these measures.
- Roll out energy efficient lighting across the municipality.
Cities Power Partnership director David Craven welcomed Dubbo Regional Council to the partnership and commended the Council for taking positive action on climate change.
“I would like to congratulate Dubbo Regional Council on joining the local climate leaders in the Cities Power Partnership, who are shaping the way that Australian communities use and generate energy,” he said.
“Since the program’s inception, Cities Power Partnership councils have launched over 500 climate projects. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Dubbo Region will bring to the Cities Power Partnership.”
