The government has announced another ‘clean energy’ voucher scheme – along the same lines as E-Lar (the scheme helping homeowners substitute gas appliances for electric alternatives).
This time around it is a scheme to help families buy solar panels.
Environment minister Maria da Graça Carvalho has told a parliamentary committee: “We will shortly launch support towards the purchase of minigeneration photovoltaic equipment.”
Vouchers will be offered “for the acquisition of renewable energy production for families”.
The only criticism of E-Lar came from consumer association DECO which explained that vouchers were restricted to a limited selection of items – and suppliers.
Tabloid Correio da Manhã actually ran a story to suggest the shine had come off E-Lar pretty quickly, as people realised there were a number of pitfalls. But the government seems to see the scheme as a great success – and a second phase of E-Lar has reportedly been taken up enthusiastically, with 47,000 vouchers already emitted.
The second phase of the E-Lar scheme “remains open”, said minister Carvalho.
The minister also said there is to be a new ‘campaign’ offering €20 million in subsidies for the purchase of electric vehicles.
Another ‘soundbite’ to come out of the hearing was the fact that see-through plastic bags (used in sales of fruit and vegetables) are to be substituted by bags of ‘stronger material’ (not plastic, and at no cost to consumers) from January 1, 2027.
Source material: Correio da Manhã
