GOVERNMENT PURCHASES 18% OF ENERGY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES
Published Thursday, 25 September, 2008 at 03:49 PM
Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
Eighteen percent of the total energy consumed by Queensland Government departments in 2007-08 came from renewable energy sources, Acting Public Works Minister Judy Spence announced today.
Ms Spence said the purchase was well in excess of the Government’s goal of sourcing at least 5% of electricity purchased for use by government departments from renewable energy sites.
“Volumes purchased during 2007-08 included 68,110,000 kWh (approx 6% of total energy consumption) of renewable energy supported by accredited carbon offsets and 130,000,000 kWh (approx 12% of total) of renewable energy with no accompanying offsets,” Ms Spence said.
“The renewable energy purchase accompanied by accredited carbon offsets allowed the Queensland Government to claim greenhouse gas reductions of 68,110 tonnes, which is the equivalent of removing 17,000 cars from our roads for a year.”
Ms Spence said the renewable energy came from sources recognised by the Australian Government’s Office of Renewable Energy Regulator.
“The Bligh Government has allocated $1.4 million annually until 2009-10 for renewable energy purchases,” she said.
“This is yet another demonstration of our commitment of making Tomorrow’s Queensland greener.”
Ms Spence said Premier Anna Bligh and Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten announced an ambitious new energy efficiency policy for Queensland Government buildings in December aimed at driving down energy consumption.
“Reducing energy consumption in government buildings is the best way of reducing the carbon footprint of those buildings and the government has set a target of reducing energy consumption by 210,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year by 2015 and achieving ‘carbon neutral’ status by 2020,” Ms Spence said.
“There are a number of actions that will be taken to achieve these targets including mandatory set points for airconditioning, the switching off of non-essential computers and other equipment after hours and energy rating standards for buildings.
“The purchase of renewable energy is an action we are already taking and will continue to take to reduce the impact on the environment.”
Media contact: (07) 3237 1832
Ms Spence said the purchase was well in excess of the Government’s goal of sourcing at least 5% of electricity purchased for use by government departments from renewable energy sites.
“Volumes purchased during 2007-08 included 68,110,000 kWh (approx 6% of total energy consumption) of renewable energy supported by accredited carbon offsets and 130,000,000 kWh (approx 12% of total) of renewable energy with no accompanying offsets,” Ms Spence said.
“The renewable energy purchase accompanied by accredited carbon offsets allowed the Queensland Government to claim greenhouse gas reductions of 68,110 tonnes, which is the equivalent of removing 17,000 cars from our roads for a year.”
Ms Spence said the renewable energy came from sources recognised by the Australian Government’s Office of Renewable Energy Regulator.
“The Bligh Government has allocated $1.4 million annually until 2009-10 for renewable energy purchases,” she said.
“This is yet another demonstration of our commitment of making Tomorrow’s Queensland greener.”
Ms Spence said Premier Anna Bligh and Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten announced an ambitious new energy efficiency policy for Queensland Government buildings in December aimed at driving down energy consumption.
“Reducing energy consumption in government buildings is the best way of reducing the carbon footprint of those buildings and the government has set a target of reducing energy consumption by 210,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year by 2015 and achieving ‘carbon neutral’ status by 2020,” Ms Spence said.
“There are a number of actions that will be taken to achieve these targets including mandatory set points for airconditioning, the switching off of non-essential computers and other equipment after hours and energy rating standards for buildings.
“The purchase of renewable energy is an action we are already taking and will continue to take to reduce the impact on the environment.”
Media contact: (07) 3237 1832