STREET lights, schools, libraries and all Worcestershire County Council buildings are to be powered by ‘green’ energy from April 1.
County Hall hopes that by buying green electricity it can record most of its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from electricity as zero in its annual GHG report.
These emissions have already been reduced by 36 per cent since 2009/10, and it is expected that by going green for electricity will help to decrease them even further.
The green electricity will be purchased through West Mercia Energy which uses renewable energy sources.
The green electricity will come from a variety of renewable sources, including solar power, wind power and hydro/wave power.
The current UK fuel mix for standard ‘brown’ electricity is made up of 29 per cent renewable while the ‘pure green’ the Council is buying is solely made up of accredited renewable sources.
The authority will also begin working with the Woodland Trust to plant 150,000 new trees in the county to further enhance the environment and had pledged to continue to improve flood mitigation measures and upgrade thousands more street lights to energy efficient LED lights.
