Green power agreement set to help Coffs Harbour’s council meet extended emissions target

A Mid North Coast council has pushed its net zero emissions target back to 2040, with councillors admitting the organisation was simply “not going to get it done by 2030”.

However, an impending change of energy provider has given hope the new targets can be met. 

The background: The City of Coffs Harbour council adopted its current emissions plan in 2021.

• The goal was to source 100 percent renewable energy for its operations and to eliminate its emissions footprint by 2030/31 - excluding emissions generated by landfill waste. 

• While the council estimates it has made cost savings of around $900,000 and reduced emissions by 2,900 tonnes CO2-e since 2021 - the equivalent of taking around 1,160 average Australian cars off the road for one year, the targets remain out of sight. 

Wait a second, what’s CO2-e?: CO2-e stands for ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’ and is a way of adding up different greenhouse gases into one single number.

What now?: Last week, councillors voted to place an updated draft plan on public exhibition, with a revised net zero target of 2040.

Actions in the plan include increasing renewable energy generation, improving energy efficiency, transitioning council’s vehicle fleet to EVs, expanding battery storage, reducing supply chain emissions, and improving waste management practices. 

What it includes: The new plan encompasses all emissions directly linked to the city’s operations, including from fleet and plant fuel use, landfill operations, and electricity consumed across city-owned buildings, facilities, and street lighting.

• It also includes “Scope 3” emissions, which are indirect emissions not controlled by council but associated with its activities or services.

Interim targets: The draft plan recommends a series of interim targets for council, including: 

• A 100 renewable electricity power purchase agreement by 2027

• 50 percent of buildings being powered by “behind the meter” solar by 2030

• A 25 percent reduction in supply chain emissions by 2030

• A 100 percent electric passenger fleet by 2031.

The way forward: Council is currently preparing to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with 25 other councils, meaning it will shift to powering council operations with 100 percent renewable energy from three solar farms.

Change the energy: Electricity makes up around 21 percent of the City’s emissions, with power currently purchased from Shell Energy and AGL.

These retail contracts are set to expire on June 30 2027, with the new renewable energy agreement set to take over from July 1 2027 to December 3 2030. 

Green direction: Mayor Nikki Williams said the existing electricity contracts had impacted the City’s ability to meet its emissions targets.

• “The council three years ago went with a black power agreement instead of a green power agreement. We're now looking at a green power agreement, which will get us nearly 80 percent toward our targets,” she said.

Councillor Jonathan Cassell said the PPA will give council “heaps of room to achieve their targets”.