Bates calls for interest free loans to increase microgeneration in Wales (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

Bates calls for interest free loans to increase microgeneration in Wales

September 18, 2008 12:00 AM

Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the Environment, Mick Bates AM, is calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to fund a system of interest free loans, to increase the use of microgeneration technology in Wales, helping people save money as well as reduce their carbon footprint.

Commenting Montgomeryshire AM Mick states:

"The use of microgeneration technologies offers a huge opportunity for households and businesses to reduce their carbon emissions and their energy bills, by enabling people to produce their own green energy. Not only would this be better for the environment, but it would support the most vulnerable people in our communities who are suffering from fuel poverty.

"Most people genuinely want to make a difference by using green technologies to reduce their carbon footprint, but they are stifled by the high costs of these products. Householders and businesses may wish to use a more environmentally sound form of heating or electricity, but the costs are prohibitively high.

"We need to take action to make the market more attractive to consumers whilst allowing people to take responsibility for their actions. I urge the Welsh Assembly Government to consider offering interest free loans to people in Wales to facilitate the purchase of microgeneration equipment, such as photovoltaics and wind turbines or ground heat pumps and solar heating.

"Wales can still lead the way but we are being held back by the failing policies of a Labour-Plaid Government. It is time to be bold and ambitious and support, not stifle, the people of Wales, so that we can move towards a green economy where each individual can make sustainable choices that they can afford."

Ends/Diwedd

Notes:

The Micro-generation Action Plan contains 'benchmarks' for the installation of 30,000 new micro-generation heating and electricity units by 2012 and 300,000 units by 2020.

The Microgeneration Action Plan for Wales 2007 can be viewed at http://new.wales.gov.uk/about/departments/dein/publications/microgenplan?lang=en