The Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has today (17 August) urged the Welsh Government to replicate the Chancellor’s Green Home Grant scheme.
The policy is set to see over 600,000 homeowners in England receive up to £5,000 to install insulation, heat pumps, and draft proofing to help cut energy bills. Under the scheme, households on a low income can receive vouchers covering 100% of the cost of the improvements, up to a maximum of £10,000.
The new scheme offers a broader range of support than the existing Welsh Government Nest programme, which looks to install free boilers, central heating systems and insulation to help households on low incomes and those tenants with preexisting conditions. The Shadow Minister's call comes in tandem with her letter to the First Minister last week, which urged for the mandatory use of Welsh wool in all new home insulation schemes.
Commenting on her calls, Janet said:
“This is a very exciting project announcement from the Conservative UK Government, which not only has the potential to support over 100,000 green collar jobs, but also contributes positively to our national effort to combat climate change.
“I urge the Welsh Government to immediately set about investigating how to replicate this scheme in Wales, which offers a sure-fire way to scale up the assistance offered when compared to current offerings like Nest. This would have a far-reaching positive impact on the cost of living, as well as for the use of our nation’s wool stock.
“Having explored potential routes of funding for the scheme, I believe that Wales can find the necessary monetary support through the consequentials received for spends in relation to COVID-19. This would suggest that the scheme would be worth approximately £100 million.
“Bold and innovative leadership is required to sustain clean economic growth into the future. Replicating this scheme is a long-term investment in our economy, which would also mark a necessary step change to level up our green recovery.”
ENDS
