Inner West Council now using 100% renewables and commits to complete carbon neutrality by 2025

Sydney’s Inner West Council has advised it is the first local government in Australia to be 100% divested from fossil fuels and 100% powered by renewable energy.

The Council has more than doubled rooftop solar capacity within 18 months helping to power its aquatic centres, libraries, childcare centres, and offices.

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne notes “three years ago we became the first Council to become 100% divested from fossil fuels. Now, we are procuring 100% of our electricity needs from renewable sources.

“Inner West is the first Council in the country to have achieved and combined these two important environmental milestones.

“We are taking serious action on climate change by thinking globally and acting locally. We are determined that Inner West continues to be a national leader in sustainability.

“To achieve this, we have also committed to becoming 100% carbon neutral by 2025.

The renewable energy deal was brokered through Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) with ZEN Energy.

Seventeen other Councils are also moving to 100% renewable energy, however Inner West is the only one that is also 100% divested from fossil fuels.

“Electricity makes up around three-quarters of Council’s corporate carbon emissions, so going completely renewable for electricity is a massive step forward for us,” Mayor Byrne said.