Shoalhaven City Council will sign a Cities Power Partnership after a majority of councillors voted in favour of a motion tabled by Cr Kaye Gartner.

The partnership will provide council with access to more knowledge and expertise, and increased eligibility for funds.

“You’re joined with another council of similar size and councils can join forces for grant applications,” a council spokeswoman said.

“Grant funding is likely to be available through state and federal governments soon.”

Cr Gartner argued renewable energy is the way forward, and she has put her money where her mouth is. 

“We have solar on the roof, and we don’t have much in the way of electricity bills,” she said.

“Imagine what we’d be able to do if we could apply for a 50 megawatt solar farm.”

She maintains the Shoalhaven must play its role in the broader community’s climate change goals.

“We have in NSW a policy of zero net emissions by 2050, we’re all aware our federal government has signed us to the Paris treaty,” she said.

“This change has to happen, and we have to find ways of doing that.”

The program will be launched on July 19.

Cr Andrew Guile aired his opposition to the motion.

“There's no way we should do this,” he said.

“In supporting this motion, the only message we'll be giving to our ratepayers is, we support higher power bills.”

For: Gartner, Annette Alldrick, Nina Cheyne, John Wells, Joanna Gash, Patricia White 

Against: Guile, Mitchell Pakes, Greg Watson, Mark Kitchener, Bob Proudfoot

Absent: Amanda Findley