Sunshine Coast Energy Plans for the Future

The city of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland has expanded and progressed rapidly compared to some other major cities in the country, and of course this population growth of the city is directly proportional to its carbon emissions. The city council is now concerned about how to reduce their carbon footprint and the impact of spiralingelectricity priceswithout compromising the economic potential of the city.

In response to that, the council has launched a transition program to prepare residents and business owners on the Coast for major changes in energy production.

The Sunshine Coast Energy Transition 10 year Plan launched last year is driven by environmental concerns and energy prices, and will also tackle current energy difficulties, and how to nurture new opportunities in the future.

The transition plan will primarily aid the city in:

·         Reducing the dependence on expensive fossil fuel produced electricity.

·         Nurturing work opportunities through clean energy projects.

·         Creating a sustainable future, with environmental issues and quality of life for residents a major consideration.

The city aims to achieve the above goals by implementing the following actions:

·         Extensive support for solar power in SunshineCoast and also other potential renewable energy sources like wind, hydro and new age technologies.

·         Establishment of a biodiesel industry.

·         Energy efficiency measures in all government owned buildings and facilities.

The transition program is a giant leap in the Coast’s “Our Place Our Future” campaign, which aims for a strategic approach in a sustainable and better Sunshine Coast in the future.

The program sets a strong framework for all future projects of the city directed towards clean energy and carbon reduction. The strategic approach will revolutionise all projects and will minimise policy errors and project failures.

There is extensive education and information to be given to the community to ensure widespread acceptance of the transition process and better coping mechanisms for small businesses for all the favorable and unfavorable changes that it might bring.