The City of Ryde has taken another major step in the fight against climate change with Council adopting a 100 percent renewable energy target by 2030.
A report requested by Council found that meeting a 100 percent renewable energy target was very achievable. The target would see Council source all of its electricity usage it is responsible for from renewable sources by the end of the decade.
City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jerome Laxale, said the 100 percent renewable energy target by 2030 was not only achievable, but would also deliver enormous benefits to the community in the long term such as reduced Council utility costs, reduced emissions and increased energy security.
“By committing to a 100 percent renewable energy target, the City of Ryde is continuing its efforts in taking real action to tackle climate change. I would call on other authorities at all levels of government that have not committed to such a target to do so as soon as possible,” Clr Laxale said.
“The common refrain that investing in renewables will result in increased costs for ratepayers is easily debunked. It actually delivers energy savings as energy that was once sourced from the grid at a cost is instead sourced for free from renewables, which will result in savings for our ratepayers over the long term.
“To date, the City of Ryde has shown time and again that investment in a cleaner and greener future provides long term economic and environmental benefits for our community. As an example, since 2018 Council has divested more than a third of its investment portfolio away from fossil fuel-aligned institutions, with no worsening of our financial position.”
The report into the renewable energy target based its findings on a review of the extensive work Council had already undertaken in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
In 2019, the City of Ryde was placed second for the highest number of kilowatts of solar installed across the northern region of Sydney councils and Council is already on track to source more than 60 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030 based on no further interventions taken.
The report found that by utilising a mix of interventions, including continuing with efficiency upgrades and projects, reducing energy demand and increasing solar energy production, the 100 percent renewable energy target could be achieved by Council by 2030.
Clr Edwina Clifton, who proposed the report, said the 100 percent renewable energy target proactively supports Council’s declaration of a climate emergency last year.
“The bushfires that ravaged much of Australia last summer show the severe damage that can be caused when zero action is taken. As a Council, we simply cannot continue to wait while other authorities at all levels of government sit idle. That is why committing to this target is such an important step in Council’s efforts to tackle climate change,” Clr Clifton said.