Regional
communities right around the country are adopting renewable-powered
technologies to combat climate change and take ownership of economic
opportunities. And in the race to become Australia’s first
renewable-powered community, one shire is emerging as a clear
frontrunner.
Traditionally known as the Spa Capital of Australia, Victoria’s Hepburn Shire is fast making a name for itself on climate and renewable energy, with today’s launch of its clean energy plan. The plan incorporates an ambitious target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and 100% renewable energy by 2021 - a mere two years from now.
And they’re well on their way.
Community-owned Hepburn Wind farm, with its two turbines affectionately named Gale and Gusto, already produces enough energy to power over 2000 homes. But the Shire’s ambitious 2030 net-zero emissions reduction plan will rely on more than renewable power to get the job done. It will also incorporate rapidly reducing greenhouse gas pollution from transport, agriculture, manufacturing and stationary energy use (that includes things like diesel and gas consumption for energy, such as domestic heating).
Many of us can only imagine living in a truly renewable community, where each and every activity we undertake - from the morning commute, right through to cooking the evening meal - is powered by renewable energy.
For the residents of Hepburn Shire, this dream will soon become reality.
By 2030, the Shire’s clean energy plan will have prevented about 260,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution from entering the atmosphere annually. That’s the equivalent of taking 60,000 fossil-fuelled cars off the road.
The people of Hepburn Shire understand all too well the
threat of escalating climate change impacts, and the need to act
now. In February of this year, bushfires blazed across much
of Victoria, threatening lives and homes in the region.
But as far as action from the ground-up goes, Hepburn is not alone in its ambitions: other Australian communities are stepping up to the plate, too. Byron Shire and the ACT have both set net-zero emissions targets, while communities like Yackandandah and Tathra have set 100% renewable energy targets.
What is clear from these communities taking charge is that real action on renewable energy and climate change isn’t just possible, it’s already happening in cities and towns all around us.
And it’s being led by neighbours, friends, families - real people who want to see a significant difference in our world.
After Australia’s record-breaking Angry Summer of 2018-19, and with bushfire seasons becoming hotter, longer and more perilous, the need to act urgently, purposefully, on climate change could not be more apparent.
More than anything, I hope that in shining a spotlight on stories like these, we can inspire other local, state, territory - even federal - governments to pursue ambitious clean energy and climate plans.
Now that’s a knock-on effect I can support.
With Gusto,
Professor Tim Flannery
Chief Councillor
P.S. Our Cities Power Partnership is championing, upskilling and collaborating with local governments from right across Australia, to pursue and promote a clean energy future. To find out more about the Partnership, head to the website here.
P.P.S. Don't have Facebook? Watch the video on YouTube.
*Correction: an email we sent this week incorrectly stated Federal Labor’s renewable energy target was 50% by 2050. That target is actually 50% renewable energy by 2030. Thank you to our community members who brought this typo to our attention. We apologise for this error.*
Traditionally known as the Spa Capital of Australia, Victoria’s Hepburn Shire is fast making a name for itself on climate and renewable energy, with today’s launch of its clean energy plan. The plan incorporates an ambitious target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and 100% renewable energy by 2021 - a mere two years from now.
And they’re well on their way.
Community-owned Hepburn Wind farm, with its two turbines affectionately named Gale and Gusto, already produces enough energy to power over 2000 homes. But the Shire’s ambitious 2030 net-zero emissions reduction plan will rely on more than renewable power to get the job done. It will also incorporate rapidly reducing greenhouse gas pollution from transport, agriculture, manufacturing and stationary energy use (that includes things like diesel and gas consumption for energy, such as domestic heating).
Many of us can only imagine living in a truly renewable community, where each and every activity we undertake - from the morning commute, right through to cooking the evening meal - is powered by renewable energy.
For the residents of Hepburn Shire, this dream will soon become reality.
By 2030, the Shire’s clean energy plan will have prevented about 260,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution from entering the atmosphere annually. That’s the equivalent of taking 60,000 fossil-fuelled cars off the road.
Our Cities Power Partnership team were
on the ground to capture the story and spirit of the Hepburn Shire
community. Watch this video today to see how this Shire
is getting it done with gusto:
But as far as action from the ground-up goes, Hepburn is not alone in its ambitions: other Australian communities are stepping up to the plate, too. Byron Shire and the ACT have both set net-zero emissions targets, while communities like Yackandandah and Tathra have set 100% renewable energy targets.
What is clear from these communities taking charge is that real action on renewable energy and climate change isn’t just possible, it’s already happening in cities and towns all around us.
And it’s being led by neighbours, friends, families - real people who want to see a significant difference in our world.
After Australia’s record-breaking Angry Summer of 2018-19, and with bushfire seasons becoming hotter, longer and more perilous, the need to act urgently, purposefully, on climate change could not be more apparent.
More than anything, I hope that in shining a spotlight on stories like these, we can inspire other local, state, territory - even federal - governments to pursue ambitious clean energy and climate plans.
Now that’s a knock-on effect I can support.
With Gusto,
Professor Tim Flannery
Chief Councillor
P.S. Our Cities Power Partnership is championing, upskilling and collaborating with local governments from right across Australia, to pursue and promote a clean energy future. To find out more about the Partnership, head to the website here.
P.P.S. Don't have Facebook? Watch the video on YouTube.
*Correction: an email we sent this week incorrectly stated Federal Labor’s renewable energy target was 50% by 2050. That target is actually 50% renewable energy by 2030. Thank you to our community members who brought this typo to our attention. We apologise for this error.*
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