Tuesday 13 February 2024
Local leaders concerned over UK clean heat policy
Local leaders express concern over the potential decision to halt the Clean Heat Market Mechanism.
They fear it could harm climate efforts and industry investment.
The mechanism, intended to incentivise low carbon heating systems, faces a possible pause just before its planned implementation.
UK100's Chief Executive, Christopher Hammond, stresses the importance of consistent policy for industry confidence.
Christopher Hammond said: "There’s no good spin here. By abandoning the Clean Heat Market Mechanism it severely undermines local authority efforts to cut emissions from housing within their communities.
"With the mechanism only months away from taking effect, any reversal risks sending mixed signals to industry and consumers alike about the UK’s commitment to low carbon heat. Warm words won’t build confidence when cold water is being poured on effective policy-making. Delay now, and without a clear path on how you’ll deliver clean heat, means more costs later."
Councillor Mike McKeown, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability at Cotswold District Council, said: "The government's backpedalling on crucial climate initiatives not only undermines our collective efforts to combat climate change but also places an undue strain on local governments.
"Already grappling with chronic underfunding, local authorities are tasked with encouraging and supporting climate action within their communities. This task is made significantly harder by the government's reluctance to firmly commit to and invest in sustainable technologies."
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson told Energy Live News: "No decision has yet been made and we remain committed to our ambition of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028.
"We want to do this in a way that does not burden consumers and we’ve increased our heat pump grants by 50% to £7,500 - making it one of the most generous schemes in Europe.
"This pragmatic approach is working, with a nearly 50% increase in people applying in December 2023 compared to the same month in 2022."
