PN promise tax rebates on green roofs, cheaper fuel and no LNG tanker

PN leader Simon Busuttil had pledged to remove the Liquid Natural Gas tanker, moored in Marsaxlokk and replace it with a gas pipeline to Sicily - one of 9 proposals related to energy announced this morning.

Speaking at a press conference in Attard on Saturday, Busuttil pointed out that fuel prices in Malta had consistently ranked among the highest in the EU for several years.

The PN leader said one of the first things he would do if elected into government would be to reduce petrol and diesel prices by 5c, adding that he would keep the price below the EU average for five years.

A PN government would buy electricity from the cheapest source, currently was the undersea interconnector and pass on the savings to the consumer, he said.

Malta is the only EU country not meeting its targets on greenhouse gas emissions, he said, adding that he would bind himself to comply with the EU directives and meet emissions targets. Linked to this was a proposal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, with a particular emphasis on transport. A PN government would encourage more use of public transport and reduce the reliance on private cars, Busuttil said.

It would also incentivise the use of renewable energy by offering grants and feed-in tariffs and by installing more solar panels on top of public buildings, he said. Busuttil assured voters that private solar rights would be protected by ensuring that those persons whose solar panels were affected by lack of sunlight caused by new buildings would be compensated for this by the State.

Another proposal was to offer tax rebates to companies who have “green roofs” and who use that space for recreation.

A PN government would also look into the feasibility of developing solar roads, Busuttil said. Other countries are heading towards the use of these roads, which double as solar panels, Busuttil added. Malta had great potential to utilize the limited space and large exposure to sunlight the island enjoyed, he said.