Melbourne is getting a step closer to fulfill its sustainable goals by investing in environmental powered systems in their trams by 2018. This is part of the city's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
Last week, the government proposed its trams to go solar and build 75MW solar farms in North Victoria in the first months of the year with one to be completed by 2018. Environment and Energy Minister, Lily D'Ambrosio noted that 35MW would power the trams and thereby eliminate 80,000 tons of greenhouse gasses in a year.
D'Ambrosio told The Guardian: "We will use our purchasing power as a large energy consumer to boost investment in renewables and create new jobs for Victorians." She further mentioned that they're looking at "Victoria as a leader in climate change, by reducing emissions and adapting to the impacts."
The switch to green energy would have Victoria spend $150m and generate 300 employment opportunities. Environment Victoria's Chief Executive, Mark Wakefield, also told The Guardian that "there was symbolic power in having the tram network, which is one of the most recognizable features of Melbourne, powered by renewable energy."
"I would love to see the train network also powered by renewable energy," he said. The government has boasted that this project is a world's first as it will be the biggest tram network to be powered by solar with 410 trams running through renewable energy.
Greg Brown of The Australian captured D'Ambrosio saying, "We will actually buy more than enough energy to power our entire tram network, so yes it is a notional process, but effectively we are growing our renewable energy more than matching the needs of our tram network."
The project receives support from the public by using green energy, though leaves backlash for not lowering the rates electricity prices.
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