Ipswich Borough Council has announced it will move to new energy contracts that use zero-carbon electricity and ‘green’ gas that will slash its carbon emissions by more than 80%.

It has committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030 and will begin using zero-carbon electricity from April 2022.

The council stated that throughout 2019 and 2020, its electricity use made up 35% of its overall emissions, with its gas use making up a further 47%.

It also aims to make 95% of its vehicle fleet electric by the end of this year.

Councillor Martin Cook commented: “Ipswich Borough Council is already working hard towards our target of being carbon-neutral by 2030. We already generate an estimated 445,000kWh of zero-carbon energy every year from solar panels installed across the council’s property estate.

“We are replacing all of our fossil-fuelled cars and small vans with electric vehicles with an expectation that at least 95% of them will be powered by electric motors by the end of 2021. We are also starting to replace our gas boilers with alternative heating solutions.”