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THE PRESS ASSOCIATION – 09/11/09
The Welsh Assembly Government has reiterated its intention to keep the 2010 fuel poverty reduction for vulnerable households target in place, despite sharp rises in the number of vulnerable homes in fuel poverty over the last two years. Their latest strategy, currently out for consultation, acknowledges that reaching this 2010 target will be difficult, particularly given fuel price rises are largely outside the control of the Assembly Government, but highlights their determination to ‘do everything reasonably practicable to alleviate fuel poverty in Wales’. Read the article…
THE TELEGRAPH – 04/11/09
This article highlights the Welsh Assembly Government’s announcement of plans to introduce a 15p charge on plastic bags from early 2011, with all revenues to be used on environmental projects. Shops will be responsible for collecting the cash and spending it on green campaigns. It is hoped this will encourage more shoppers to take reusable bags to supermarkets. Welsh Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, said ‘carrier bags represent a waste of resources and they are an iconic symbol of the throwaway society we now seem to live in’. The British Retail Consortium has argued that customers should be encouraged to change, and not ‘clobbered’ with new ‘taxes’. Read the article…
THE BBC – 20/10/2009
Charities and consumer groups are launching a charter aimed at ridding Wales of fuel poverty by 2018. According to campaigners, the average price of gas has increased by 67% since January 2006, while the cost of electricity has risen by 37%. These high energy prices are compounded in Wales by poor housing stock, significant levels of poverty and low income, and a considerable proportion of homes not being connected to the gas network. Welsh Environment Minister Jane Davidson has emphasised that tackling fuel poverty is high on her list of objectives and highlighted that they would be publishing an updated fuel poverty strategy for consultation in coming weeks. Read the article…
THE BBC – 06/08/09
This article highlights the suggestion by Welsh Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, that changes to planning rules governing micro-generation will make installation cheaper and therefore a more attractive option for householders. She believes micro-generation has a significant role to play in decarbonising energy supply, helping tackle climate change and reducing fuel poverty, particularly for those people living in off-gas grid, hard-to-heat and hard-to-treat homes. Read the article….
THE BBC – 16/03/09
The Welsh Assembly Government is introducing new rules for the home energy efficiency scheme (HEES), so that people receiving means-tested benefits whose homes are not energy efficient will be eligible for help. Those who qualify will receive funding for an improved package of support for the most cost-effective heat-saving measures, including solid wall insulation or micro-generation measures where appropriate. In addition to these changes to eligibility, the plan aims to offer: better advice for members of the public on where to find help; support for small businesses to become more energy efficient; help for credit unions to provide low-cost loans, and an end to public investment in high carbon home heating. Read the article… and the Welsh Assembly Government announcement…
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT – 28/01/09
Welsh Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, has outlined that although £270 million in funding is available to tackle fuel poverty in Wales over the next three years, major challenges still lay ahead, particularly in light of the economic crisis and unpredictable global oil prices. The minister indicated that the National Energy and Savings Plan to be revealed in March would be based on four main principles: focusing available investment where it can have the biggest impact on greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills; focusing Assembly Government efforts on those that need help the most; bringing maximum investment into Wales, through funding schemes such as the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target or business opportunities in providing low carbon solutions for the built environment; and supporting small businesses as the backbone of the Welsh economy. Read the article…
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT – 22/12/08
The Welsh Assembly Government has pledged an extra £5.8 million over the next two years to help fight fuel poverty in Wales. The funding will go towards the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) offering heating and insulation measures to make homes warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. They aim to fight fuel poverty on three fronts; making homes more energy efficient, maximising income, and getting the best fuel prices for vulnerable households. Read the article…
THE BBC – 03/12/08
The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) have announced plans to launch a £12mill programme, which aims to install sustainable energy measures into 40,000 socially owned homes, have 65,000 homes assessed for energy efficiency and 39,000 energy reduction measures implemented. This will ideally reduce domestic energy bills by approximately £1.7m and reduce emissions by about 139,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. It is hoped that the programme will tackle fuel poverty and create a new industry base in the Heads of the Valleys area of Wales linked to job creation, skills development and the development of local businesses in the sector. Read the article…
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