Yackandandah and other towns plan to have 100% renewable electricity

Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) meeting (RenewEconomy)

Yackandandah, in north eastern Victoria, Australia, already has some big solar installations that will help the farming community town to reach 100% renewables by 2022. The Foodworks supermarket has a 80kW solar array and the town’s health care centre has a 90kW solar array.

These two large installations join an inspiring and expanding list of homes and organisations switching to solar in the town.  The petrol station, museum, school, kindergarten, neighbourhood house, council offices and men's shed all sport solar panels. In addition, there are plans to power the water treatment plant with "43kW of solar and 40kW of battery storage".

The renewable electricity goal has been set by the community energy group Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY). TRY is also looking at ways to reduce electricity consumption in community buildings by installing LED lights and improving the air conditioning and hot water systems, as well to reduce waste.

Yackandandah joins a growing list of town councils with goals to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and electricity costs. Others include: Lismore, NSW, 100% renewable energy by 2023; Uralla, NSW, 100% renewable energy in 5-10 years; Newstead, Victoria, 100% renewable energy in next 3 years; Darebin, Melbourne, zero net emissions by 2020; Byron Bay zero emissions by 2025; and Tyalgum, NSW, to go off-grid - to name a few.

Further reading:
Solar powered Foodworks. RenewEconomy, November 11, 2016.
Yackandandah 100% renewable plans kick off with 90kW solar health centre. One Step off the Grid, February 26, 2016.
Solar and battery set to power Victorian water plant. RenewEconomy, March 28, 2017.
In the absence of national leadership, cities are driving climate policy. RenewEconomy, July 19, 2017.
Byron Bay maps out path to zero emissions by 2025. Renew Economy, June 21, 2016.
Tyalgum. ABC News, October 8, 2018.
Post Script: Yackandandah takes one step closer to 100% renewable energy. One Step Off The Grid, October 3, 2019,