Focusing a blurred vision

I refer to Joseph Farrugia's letter Lack Of Vision On Environment (April 20).

Allow me to thank Mr Farrugia for his interest in the matter. However, to be precise, while acknowledging the mammoth tasks that lie ahead to attain sustainability, I wish to point out a number of issues that the letter missed with regard to renewable energy and flood water, in the hope that the reader is presented with a fair and balanced vision on the environment today.

I reiterate what was announced by the government in the last budget speech and launched by Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Tonio Fenech on April 24. Energy-saving schemes and initiatives were introduced to induce the use of solar water heaters and photovoltaics in the domestic sector. One such incentive includes a refund on the capital paid to install a PV system for domestic purposes. Any domestic user who decides to invest in a grid-connected PV system will receive a refund of 20 per cent with a maximum of Lm500 for the first installed kWp (kilo watt peak). An additional Lm250 will be granted for every extra kWp installed over and above the first kWp. This is capped at 3.7kWp. Furthermore, Enemalta will replace the electricity meter without charge.

Another incentive is that any electricity generated and not used in the household can be sold to Enemalta. For this, a system called "net metering" is introduced. Net metering means that all the electricity sold to Enemalta will be subtracted from the consumption of units bought from Enemalta during a given period of time. The household will thus only receive a bill for the difference between the two readings.

With regard to solar water heaters, the government increased the refund given on such installations from 15 per cent in 2005 to 25 per cent in 2006. With 15 per cent, the refunds provided by government during 2005 amounted to Lm17,650 because some 358 applications were received. This year alone, the number of applications amount to 263 with a total refund of Lm23,950 for the first three months only.

With regard to flood water, a project in excess of Lm100 million is being discussed by the government now that Malta has managed to secure over €850 million in financial assistance from the European Union. Talking about ideas is one thing. Implementing and financing the same is another.

I trust the above offers an opportunity to readers to blur out any distorted visions they may have on the government's vision on the environment.