The spending review has sown a seed of doubt about the future RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) but Chris Huhne the environment minster has recently confirmed the governments support for the RHI, but stops short of saying it will be safe from the spending review which reports on the 22nd October.
When asked recently about the RHI Mr Huhne claimed that he accepted government must try to reduce uncertainty as much as possible. And, he went on to take some responsibility for the delay with an announcement on the proposed RHI.
Mr Huhne said that: “I have to take the blame for some of the delay on that. It was extremely rushed when doing the Coalition Agreement and we forgot to put the RHI in there.
“I have tried to make clear that we see heat as being key to meeting the target, so there will be a heat part of our renewable strategy, but again it is subject to the Spending Review.”
The RHI will be funded by a levy on existing energy suppliers and as such should not cost the treasury anything to run the scheme and Tim Yeo MP argues that as such it should not be affected by the spending review. It’s in the hands of the politicians and the treasury but we are confident there will we be an RHI next April but will have to wait for the announcements in October.
