THE Crowlands Wind Farm, near Ararat, is part of a large network powering up Zoos across Victoria.
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The Victorian government announced the Healesville Sanctuary was powered by renewable energy from the wind farm in western Victoria.
Victoria's iconic zoos are the first in mainland Australia to be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy after a funding injection through the Victorian government.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio announced the milestone which also included Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo use 100 per cent GreenPower. This builds on the 675 kilowatts of on-site solar already installed at the three zoos.
"This is a fantastic achievement by Zoos Victoria an achievement that is helping Victoria tackle climate change and halve its emissions by 2030," she said.
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"We want to see more organisations transition to renewables and we're delivering the investment needed to support that transition."
It's not the first climate change milestone for Zoos Victoria, which was also the first independently certified carbon neutral zoo in the world in 2013.
Zoos Victoria, which has more than 800 employees working with over 5000 animals, has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions from 14,000 tonnes to just 4,000 tonnes.
Zoos Victoria's chief executive Jenny Gray said the purpose as a zoo-based conservation organisation was to ensure a future rich in wildlife.
"It is our duty to combat climate change by taking accountability for our own energy consumption and embracing renewable energy," she said.
"Everyone can take this simple step and join us in reducing carbon in the atmosphere."
Other sustainability initiatives include the diversion of 89 per cent waste from landfill in 2020-21 and recycling 100 Mega-litres of water annually through an on-site water recycling plant.
Zoos Victoria partners with organisations to protect, revegetate and restore critical habitats in key locations across Victoria. Through the Climate Active carbon neutral program, Zoos Victoria invests carbon offsets that protect biodiversity hotspots across the world.
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