Bogdan Tudorache
The administration of the Environmental Fund (AFM) blocked for two years the installations of photovoltaic systems in Romania, claims Greenpeace. The Green House Photovoltaic program ended with the final rejection of almost 9,000 citizens, most of them rejected for a reason that is, in fact, attributable to AFM. So far, not a single panel has been installed using the program.
The administration of the Environment Fund has constantly delayed the program, according to Greenpeace. The Green House of Photovoltaics was initially shut down under the pretext of unproven computer fraud. This was followed by several postponements for months in evaluating the files and publishing the results of the appeals. One and a half years after the official start of the program, the goal stated in the funding guide – “increasing energy efficiency, improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions” – has been completely missed.
“In October 2019, at the beginning of his term as environment minister, Mr. Costel Alexe promised to conduct an AFM audit. Even today we do not know the results of this control and the consequences have been disastrous for the citizens who applied and for the installers. In July 2020, Greenpeace called for the resignation of the AFM leadership and the reform of this institution in an open letter signed by more than 700 citizens. But the environment minister continued to tacitly endorse the irregularities and behavior of AFM towards citizens. Unfortunately, administrative incompetence leaves deep traces. Although it is announced to be a multi-annual program, instead of attracting other funds and helping more citizens, Casa Verde Fotovoltaice will use in the second session the remaining funds from the first session,” said Marian Mândru, campaign coordinator at Greenpeace Romania and administrator of the online community Prosumer’s Protection.
Not only the citizens were affected, but also the companies that were involved in the project as validated installers. They have invested time and money since the beginning of 2019 and are now on the verge of bankruptcy.
“We promoted the program, talked to dozens of clients, prepared the files (many scans, file uploads, checks, etc.). From 2019 until today I did not collect even a single leu for all my efforts and I almost went bankrupt! This program was not wanted and no one from AFM was with the installers and future prosumers to obtain these European funds. European non-reimbursable funds that AFM was not able to make available to Romanians,” says Ionuț Chiriac, the owner of a small electrical installation company in Iași.
Greenpeace Romania mediated on August 17 the presentation of a legal opinion by a lawyer, because dozens of people announced their intention to sue AFM.
The Environment Fund administration has announced a new registration session for the fall of this year.
“The level of confidence in the AFM’s ability to run environmental programs is probably at an all-time low. Tempted by generous funds, many of those rejected in the first session will apply again in the fall, but there are many who prefer to invest out of pocket to become prosumers. Or they announced that they will challenge the AFM decisions in court,” Marian Mândru also said.