Kirklees Council has announced that all council-owned buildings and street lights will be powered by green energy from April next year.

The Council has arranged for its energy supplier to switch them from the corporate electricity supply to a green electricity tariff for the remaining 2 years of the current contract, which will last until April 2023.

This means that the council’s electricity supplies will be generated entirely from renewable sources.

This is expected to reduce carbon usage in Kirklees by around 17,250 tonnes of CO2.

Once the contract ends, the council will seek to secure another green energy contract to help contribute to its pledge to be carbon neutral by 2038 and its plan following the declaration of a climate emergency.

Cllr Shabir Pandor, Leader of Council commented:

“As a council we are committed to leading by example as we tackle the climate emergency.

“Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere and contribute to global warming, these carbon emissions are now causing an overall warming of the planet with corresponding devastating impacts starting to be felt.

“Selecting a green tariff for the council’s energy usage is an essential step in our pledge to help save the planet.”

The plans follow the government’s nationwide goal of net zero emissions by 2050, as well as their 10-point plan for a ‘green industrial revolution’.