Renewable Heating Consultation Launched

e Cllr Connaire McGreevy has welcomed the launch of a consultation on an incentive to encourage people to use renewable heating. The consultation was launched by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. Cllr McGreevy said, “As chair of the Forum for Renewable Energy NI, I very much welcome this long-awaited announcement which is a follow up to the Treasury offer of £25 million to Northern Ireland for a renewable heat incentive. “It is a shame that the industry, which has been lagging behind the rest of the UK since all funding was removed in 2008, will have to wait until October 2012 for any new incentive for renewable heating to come into effect. “However, I do welcome the energy Minister’s announcement that a renewable heat premium payment scheme is proposed in the interim period. “This incentive for people in the North can only help us achieve the target of 10% of properties using renewable heating methods by 2020. “This should help ensure that our indigenous bio-energy resource is maximised upon and utilised effectively to benefit our environment and our pockets in the long-term.”]]>