COUNCILLORS have questioned whether they will have the ability to back out of a 20 per cent renewable energy target if it proves too expensive.
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Tamworth Regional Council is in the midst of renewing its electricity supply contract.
Powering all of the council's sites is a substantial overhead for the organisation with its annual bill estimated be more than $3 million.
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At this week's meeting, the council took a small step in the prolonged process towards signing its new power contract.
The councillors voted in favour of holding two extraordinary meetings to shortlist and procure the supplier.
They also backed a proposal which suggested 20 per cent of the electricity council used should come from renewable sources.
However, Glenn Inglis and Russell Webb raised concerns about the contractual requirement to source power from renewable supplies.
The pair were concerned it could lock the council into a more expensive contract.
Director of water and waste, Bruce Logan, said there would be no financial penalty if the council later opted for zero renewable power in its contract.
Mayor Col Murray said he had some apprehension about the renewable measure ahead of the vote on Tuesday.
Cr Murray said he had "questioned the value" and whether he had the "right to choose on behalf of the community" how much renewable power the council bought.
He said it was "probably up to the individual in their own home" to decide how much they wanted to invest in renewables.
But he was still confident the 20 per cent option was the best option for the community.
The council's current power contract expires on December 30.