Councils combat climate change with an open chequebook
- Dean Hurlston
- Aug 6, 2022
- 2 min read
There is little doubt that the one of the hottest debates in our country is climate change.
In Victoria our 79 councils are fast declaring climate emergencies and looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint or get to “net zero”.
So far almost 40 Victorian councils have joined the “cities power partnership”
This partnership aims to link councils together to help them get to net zero as fast as possible and to ensure all aspects of councils operations minimise emissions and all power purchased is renewable only.
This is a noble pursuit but it’s missing a key component, Buying power!
The goals of the partnership neglect a key aspect of the local government act (Vic) 2020.
Councils must provide services to the community with “value for money” as a key requirement.
There is little doubt “renewable” electricity purchased from electricity companies is more expensive. There is cost in installing solar panels and batteries on all council buildings, changing petrol fleets to electric only (think council cars and garbage trucks). In reality there will need to be HUGE investment by member councils in replacing fleets and installing solar and battery - in many cases this will run into the millions. The goals of entering the partnership have to be realised within 5 years of joining.
Stupidly, the group buying power delivers NO COST SAVINGS on power bills.
None. Zip. Nada.
The program has missed the chance to save councils money and instead has cheaply gone for the emotional rhetoric and photo opportunities of the climate change narrative, but it will look great in their council newsletters - more tokenism.
Put simply, councils joining this program will need to spend more ratepayers money creating the narrative that they are combatting climate change.
Sadly this is our councils theology of today, if we look good, feel good, and “appear” to do good perhaps the residents won’t notice the open chequebook in our hands.
The article highlights an important point regarding the tension between noble climate goals and fiscal responsibility. As councils prioritize sustainability, the question of economic impact on ratepayers arises. It's crucial to consider whether initiatives like the cities power partnership truly reflect our values or if they are just another “Ricky https://katoitoi.nz/ ” tactic to appear responsible while lacking substantive cost savings. The community deserves transparency and accountability.
The discussion around climate change initiatives among local councils is indeed complex. The article raises a significant concern about the financial implications these partnerships have on taxpayers. While pursuing sustainable practices is crucial, the lack of real savings through group purchasing power could hinder councils' ability to offer essential services effectively. This reveals a critical need for balance between environmental goals and fiscal responsibility, especially as ratepayers face increased costs. Ultimately, councils must ensure that their pursuit of change does not become merely a “Pay ID https://tranzform.org.nz/ ” for political optics.
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