Minister Barr: Climate Council gets behind ACT’s 100% renewables target
- Written by ACT Government
Released 18/03/2016
Joint media release: Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Simon Corbell MLA
Today I joined the Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Simon Corbell to welcome the Climate Council’s campaign for all Australian state and territory leaders to follow the ACT Government’s lead and commit to 100% renewables.
While Canberra is likely to be the first Australian capital city to be powered by 100% clean, renewable energy within a decade, there’s absolutely no reason why every state in Australia can’t do something similar.
I’m pleased to see that 24,207 supporters have signed the petition, presenting a strong message that will be hard for other Premiers and Chief Ministers to ignore.
In September last year, the Climate Council launched an online campaign in partnership with change.org encouraging members to show their support for the ACT’s announcement that they would be the first Australian capital to be powered by 100% clean, renewable energy
Following the presentation of the letter Ms McKenzie and Climate Councillor Professor, Will Steffen, discussed the ACT Government’s ideas and experiences regarding energy solutions. Mr Corbell said the ACT was proud to have shown other jurisdictions that moving to renewable energy was achievable and affordable.
“The Climate Council was keen to identify the enabling factors that opened up the way for the ACT Government to make such a strong commitment and any insights into what would need to occur for this to be replicated elsewhere,” Mr Corbell said.
The ACT Government has now sourced 440 MW of clean, renewable energy through three reverse auctions, which will provide 80% of the ACT’s electricity needs by 2018.
“The ACT’s pioneering reverse auction process ensures that Canberrans pay low prices for electricity while receiving maximum local investment benefits,” Mr Corbell said.
The total costs to ACT consumers associated with all current and proposed large-scale renewable energy projects will peak at an average of less than $5 a household per week by 2020.This is offset by similar savings to Canberra households from mandated energy efficiency schemes.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
