Ten-year challenge to go 100% renewable begins Lismore City - TopicsExpress

Ten-year challenge to go 100% renewable begins Lismore City Council is embarking on the development of a 10-year Renewable Energy Master Plan with the ultimate goal to become 100% self-sufficient in electricity through renewable sources by 2023. Today (Wednesday, 21 May) Council is holding a workshop with Sydney-based company Sustainable Business Consultants to begin looking at where Council can reduce its energy consumption and how it can introduce renewable technology. Sustainable Business Consultants staff have already undertaken investigations into Council’s energy usage and facilities, and will return in July with an action plan on how to meet the ambitious 2023 target. “In 2013 Council completed the largest community consultation in its 134-year history and the community made it very clear they want Council to show environmental leadership,” Environmental Strategies Officer Sharyn Hunnisett said. “The Imagine Lismore community consultation gave us a clear picture that residents want Lismore to be a model of sustainability and they believe Lismore can lead by example, particularly in the area of renewable technology. “Our General Manager came away from that consultation process and gave staff a challenge of his own – to become 100% self-sufficient in electricity via renewable sources by 2023. That is a huge challenge but we are going to give it our best shot!” Sharyn said in the past 10 years Council has turned around its soaring greenhouse gas emissions and they are now consistently on the decrease despite the continued growth of the organisation. “We have just this week opened our new Materials Recovery Facility to process recyclables from right around the region and we are now ready to begin our 10-year Renewable Energy Master Plan. I believe the way we think about energy and our waste is constantly evolving and I believe Lismore can be at the forefront of innovation and making smart choices for a cleaner, greener world.”