Wrexham Council highlights efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and use of fossil fuels

The ongoing efforts to reduce the council’s carbon footprint and use of fossil fuels was highlighted at a meeting this week.

It comes after a public question from resident Jackie Knightly at the executive board earlier this week.

Speaking at the meeting, Jackie asked: “When will Wrexham Council divest from fossil fuel by, and what has been done so far, specifically relating to this question?”

Lead Member for Environment and Transport, Cllr David A Bithell said reducing the reliance on fossil fuels had ‘long been a central focus for Wrexham Council’ and that “innovative renewable technologies’ had been embraced over the last decade.

Cllr Bithell continued onto say: “Over the past 10 years, through our procurement of energy, we are also proud to announce that 100% of the our electricity supply, is derived from renewable sources, thereby ensuring all the electricity used in our buildings and street lighting is green electricity.

“This is in turn divesting from the traditional use of fossil fuels.

“In recent years through the advancement of LED technologies the council has invested in replacement lighting units across the County Borough. This programme of works is continuing and will see over the next two years, the conversion the council’s remaining street lighting 11,000 units in total.”

Along with the improvements to street lighting, the meeting was told that 2,675 solar panels had been installed on council houses – along with installing and maintaining the first Wales council owned solar farm and internal lighting upgrades in over 30 schools and offices.

Other changes include a biomass boiler in one of the council’s large offices, reducing single use plastics across all buildings and schools and electric charging points in five public car parkings and electric “pool vehicles” in the council’s fleet.

He added: “We are aware of the Welsh Government’s recently declared Climate Emergency in Wales which has highlighted ambitious plans to be carbon neutral by 2030.

“Looking to the future, I am pleased to confirm that following a decision at our June Council meeting, we recently approved the development of a Decarbonisation Action Plan, within 12 months which documents our work and actions and the supports the Welsh Government’s Commitment on Climate change.”