The State Government will call for tenders to supply 26 gigawatt hours - five per cent of the energy it needs - from a renewable source, Energy Minister Francis Logan has announced.
The full text of a Ministerial announcement is pasted below
The State Government has taken the first step in meeting its commitment to purchase
20 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010, by calling for tenders to supply 26GWh of accredited green power.
Energy Minister Francis Logan said the tender would be advertised this week.
He said the State Government would spend $1.2 million in 2007-08 to purchase five per cent (26GWh) of its electricity needs from a renewable energy source.
This would increase to 10 per cent in 2008-09 and then 20 per cent by 2009-10.
"The initial purchase of five per cent of accredited renewable energy is the equivalent of the annual electricity use of 4,700 homes," Mr Logan said.
"This is a major initiative and is another example of the Carpenter Government leading the way in the area of renewable energy.
"The State Government's purchase of renewable energy aims to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gases.
"It also provides support to the renewable energy industry and encourages the development of new renewable energy projects in the Western Australia.
"Switching to accredited green power is a practical way of addressing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the use of electricity.
"I encourage businesses and other organisations to consider making a similar commitment."
The State Government has also set a target of 15 per cent of electricity on WA's main electricity grid to come from renewable energy sources by 2020, rising to 20 per cent in 2025.
More information is available on the State Government's Sustainable Energy Development Office's website.
