C ITY OF RYDE ADOPTS 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET BY 2030
The City of Ryde has taken another major step in the fight against climate change with Council
adopting a 100 percent renewable energy target by 2030.
A report requested by Council found that meeting a 100 percent renewable energy targe t was very
achievable. The target would see Council source all of its electricity usage it is responsible for from
renewable sources by the end of the decade.
City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jerome Laxale, said the 100 percent renewable energy target by 2030 was
not only achievable, but would also deliver enormous benefits to the communit y in the long term such
as reduced Council utility costs, reduced emissions and increased energy security.
“By committing to a 100 percent renewable energy target, the City of Ryde is continuing its efforts in
taking real action to tackle climate change. I would call on other authorities at all levels of government
that have not committed to such a target to do so as soon as possible,” Clr Laxale said.
“The common refrain that investing in renewables will result in increased costs for ratepayers is easily
debunked. It actually delivers energy savings as energy that was once sourced from the grid at a cost
is instead sourced for free from renewables, which will result in savings for our ratepayer s over the
long term.
“To date, the City of Ryde has shown time and again that investment in a cleaner and greener future
provides long term economic and environmental benefits for our community. As an example, since
2018 Council has divested more than a third of its investment portfolio away from fossil fuel -aligned
institutions, with no worsening of our financial position.”
The report into the renewable energy target based its finding s on a review of the extensive wor k
Council had already undertaken in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
In 2019, the City of Ryde was placed second for the highest number of kilowatts of solar installed
across the northern region of Sydney councils and Council is already on track to source more than 60
percent of its energy needs by 2030 based on no further interventions taken.
The report found that by utilising a mix of interventions, including continuing with efficiency upgrades
and projects, reducing energy demand and increasing solar energy production, the 100 percent
renewable energy target could be ac hieved by Council by 2030.
Clr Edwina Clifton, who proposed the report, said the 100 percent renewable energy target proactively
supports Council’s declaration of a climate emergency last year.
“The bushfires that ravaged much of Australia last summer show the severe damage that can be
caused when zero action is taken. As a Council, we simply cannot continue to wait while other
authorities at all levels of government sit idle. That is why committing to this target is such an
important step i n Council’s efforts to tackle climate change,” Clr Clifton said.
