Bayswater set for clean energy transition

The City of Bayswater is on track to become the greenest council in Western Australia as early as December after elected members last night voted to transition the city’s electricity supply to renewable energy sources.

That follows council endorsing an emissions reduction and renewable energy plan, which identified pathways for the city to reach 100 per cent renewable electricity in operations by 2025 (save Western Power-owned streetlighting), in August.

Councillors last night voted in favour of entering a new, three-year contract with Synergy to supply the city with electricity on sector-wide terms set by WA Local Government Association through its energy sustainability and renewables tender process.

The city can enter the contract either in April 2022 or on interim terms in December, meaning Bayswater will meet its renewables target three years earlier than anticipated.

Filomena Piffaretti, who was elected mayor at a special council meeting in October, said the city was leading the local government sector in its efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

She estimated the shift would save the city $400,000 over the duration of its contract and would eliminate about 5,070 tonnes of annual carbon emissions.

The city currently spends $2.8 million annually on electricity contracts with Landfill Power and Gas and Synergy, both of which derive power supplied from fossil fuel sources.

“Our current electricity contract has expired, so we are in a perfect position to switch to 100 per cent renewable energy and still save money,” Ms Piffaretti said.

The City of Bayswater is the 17th largest council in WA by revenue, with $78.8 million in the year to June 2020.