Cardinia Shire Council signs on to VECO, Australia’s largest-ever emissions reduction project by local government

Published: 1 June 2021

Council is proud to be one of forty-six Victorian councils to sign on to the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), the largest ever emissions reduction project by local government in Australia.

The bulk of Cardinia Shire Council's buildings and facilities, including streetlights, will begin to be transitioned to the renewable energy procurement project from July 1 2022, following the conclusion of its current energy contract.  

Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Brett Owen said that council was proud to join the VECO initiative which supports council’s commitment to reducing the impacts of climate change. 

“In 2019, Council declared a climate emergency and we continue to recognise that we must work together to take action.  

“Council is committed to showing leadership on climate change and we understand that our actions have an influence on our environment.  

“By joining the VECO project we believe we can make this influence more positive through the use of renewable energy,” Cr Owen said. 

Through VECO, which is led by Darebin City Council, participating councils will be provided with 100% renewable energy.  

Once all councils are on board, 45% of Victorian council electricity will be sourced from wind energy, reducing a combined total of greenhouse emissions by 260,000 tonnes of C02-e every year - equivalent to powering 48,000 homes or taking 90,000 cars off the road annually. 

For more information about the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), visit veco.org.au

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