Councillors Switched On To Green Energy

Star Williamstown, Altona, Laverton, Page: 13
Tuesday, 4 April 2006

RESIDENTS of Hobsons Bay may soon have a new green option when buying power with the council eyeing an environmentally friendly energy program. The council has expressed interest in joining the Community Power program, a collective of municipalities that negotiate sustainable power from suppliers at reduced prices. Community Power is a partnership between Darebin, Melbourne, Banyule and Yarra City councils and the Moreland Energy Foundation. Green Power is the product reaching the consumer in these municipalities.

It is an "accreditation and branding system, used to certify that power is generated from a renewable source". The project is designed to shift to households some of the responsibility for meeting greenhouse targets in Hobsons Bay by offering power from sources like solar, hydroelectric and wind power. Over 1300 home owners around Melbourne have signed with Community Power, generating gas emission savings estimated to be the equivalent of taking 1800 cars off the roads. Council hoped at least 500 home owners would take up the Green Power option in Hobsons Bay.

Green energy options have traditionally been more expensive for consumers than non-green, a fact that has turned many people off the idea. Community Power members are able to secure a price competitive with regular power prices by collectively negotiating a deal with energy suppliers. Modelling supplied by Community Power suggests in some cases that people choosing the 20 per cent option will actually save an average of $75 a year, while those on the 100 per cent green energy plan could save as much as $135. And there are not only cost savings involved but priceless benefits to the environment through reduced greenhouse gas output.

The Hobsons Bay Greenhouse Action Plan "seeks to reduce local community greenhouse emissions by 20 per cent of 1996 levels by the year 2010". For more information visit www.communitypower.org.