VICTORIAN water corporations remain on track to be powered with 100 per cent renewable electricity by the end of this year. Minister for Water Gayle Tierney announced on Wednesday, 11 June that all 18 of Victoria’s water corporations will meet their targets by December and that further targets to reduce carbon emissions to net-zero by 2035 are likely to be met. Ms Tierney said more than half of the corporations have brought that target forward to 2030. The shift to powering operations with renewable electricity has seen water corporations reduce their emissions by 42 percent, the equivalent of removing around 136,000 cars off Victoria’s roads. Goulburn Valley Water (GVW) managing director Steve Capewell lauded the effort of GVW to reach the target. “Goulburn Valley Water is committed to achieving its 100 per cent renewable energy targets through investment in large scale solar,” Dr Capewell said. Ms Tierney said investments in renewable energy will help lower power bills for water corporations, resulting in affordable water and sewer services to customers. Ms Tierney said Victoria’s water sector was leading the way towards a cleaner future. “(It is) showing consumers and industry that we can tackle climate change and boost renewable energy use as our population grows,” Ms Tierney said. “It is pleasing to see all our water corporations are on track to power all of their operations with renewable electricity this year - a major step towards achieving net-zero by 2035.”
