The Environmental Fund Administration (AFM) announced that it is suspending the launch of all funding programs, including the launch of the Rabla session for individuals, scheduled for Thursday, at 10:00, until the formation of the new government. At the same time, the Association of Prosumers and Energy Communities of Romania (APCE) addressed an open letter to the authorities following the statements made publicly by the president of the UDMR, Kelemen Hunor, who announced yet on Monday the intention to suspend the “Photovoltaic Green House” program for a period of several years, on the grounds that it would “impact only a few tens of thousands of people”.
“This statement not only denotes a gross disconnect from Romania’s energy and social reality, but also represents a direct attack on the only government program that has produced concrete, measurable and positive effects on reducing energy bills for Romanian citizens.
In a country where electricity is produced expensively, distributed expensively and sold even more expensively, the Green Photovoltaic House program has offered Romanians a real way to regain control over their own bill. Over 120,000 families have become prosumers, that is, producers and consumers of green energy – an approach that aligns Romania with European realities and international climate commitments,” says Dan Pîrșan, President of the PACE.
“The program, with all its administrative hiccups and stutters, worked. Moreover, in its new form, it also brings essential energy storage components, which means increased energy autonomy, stability of the electricity grids and reduced pressure on the distribution infrastructure – a chapter in which Romania is already deficient.
“The money used for this program is not public money at the discretion of politicians. It is funds from the trading of greenhouse gas emission certificates, money that, according to European directives, can be spent exclusively on reducing the carbon footprint and protecting the environment. Romania is obliged to report CO2 emission reductions. Annually, air pollution kills over 25,000 Romanians. Do you assume this figure if you decide to bury one of the few projects that combat this problem?”, Dan Pîrsan emphasizes.
AFM claims, however, that the suspension decision comes in the context of the negotiations in recent days regarding the formation of a new government, which aims to ensure balance and stability both at the governmental level and in the management of budgetary allocations.
“The negotiations in recent days regarding the formation of a new government aim to bring balance and stability, which is precisely why it is important that the new government, together with AFM, prioritize budgetary allocations according to the current needs of the population. AFM will maintain its position and promote the financing of environmental programs that have a direct impact on the environment, implicitly on the quality of people’s lives. It is important that things are done one at a time, with patience and wisdom, which is precisely why the suspension of AFM programs is a solid argument so that the government’s priorities can be honored,” said Florin Bănică, AFM president.
“AFM reaffirms its commitment to supporting environmental projects with a direct impact on the quality of life and environmental protection, but considers that this moment of suspension is necessary so that the new government priorities can be established in a balanced, sustainable and transparent manner,” the institution claims.
