Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

As the Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks announces changes to the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, Welsh Lib Dems reveal the facts behind the green veneer of today’s statement.

Households will be eligible for grant funding of up to 50% of the total capital cost but the UK Government has not allocated any additional funding for the scheme. With only £10m remaining for grants up to 2010, this would equate to only 40p per household in Wales.

Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Environment Mick Bates AM said:

“Funds will be allocated on a first come first served basis as long as the funds last, which means that only a small number of households will be able to benefit from this scheme. Furthermore households are limited by a £2,500 grant cap per household – when you consider the cost and pay back time of micro-generation technologies this is little incentive.

“There is huge potential for micro-generation, which allows people to produce their own energy, sell electricity back to the grid, reduce energy bills and protect those suffering in fuel poverty.

“The Low Carbon Buildings Programme has failed from the start, offering little incentive for people to install renewable technologies on their homes. It is crucial that this scheme is fully reviewed and backed with sufficient funding, so that we can see micro-generation technologies rolled out across homes across Wales.

“The scheme must be improved to offer more support to SME’s who are taking the initiative and installing renewable technologies on their premises. This is vital if we are to increase the uptake of micro-generation technologies across our homes and businesses in Wales so that we can meet our targets for producing energy from renewable sources.

“Micro-generation can play a huge part in securing our energy supply for the future, but we need well funded grant schemes for domestic installations, firm political backing and ambitious targets, not just aspirations and broken promises, if we are to truly develop a low carbon economy for the future.”

Notes:

There are 25m households across the UK (source: ONS), and according to BERR £10m remains available for grants to households up to 2010 under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme Scheme. This effectively leaves 40p per household.


End / Diwedd