Ulster Unionist economy spokesperson Adrian Cochrane-Watson has demanded the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment comes to the Assembly to explain his decision to close a major scheme designed to encourage renewable heating in both the domestic and business sectors.
Mr Cochrane- Watson said:
“It is quite unbelievable that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment announced the closure of the domestic and non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes by way of a press release issued after 6pm on a Friday evening.
“Mr Bell needs to appear in the Assembly chamber and explain to MLAs his reasoning for this major departure in energy policy. I tabled an urgent oral question this morning demanding the Minister explains his decision and it is deeply regrettable that this request was not acted upon.
“Many businesses and home owners have already spent significant time and money preparing for their RHI applications and installations, as well as some counting RHI returns into business plans. Many people have recently installed biomass burners, encouraged by the incentives which the Department had been promoting. I also know that there are a significant number of jobs dependent on the growth of the biomass sector.
“When added to his lack of consistent decisions around incentives for on shore wind turbines, it appears that this is a Minister with no idea or strategy for renewable energy in Northern Ireland.”