Green Loan Scheme Launched To Help Farmers Cut Energy Costs

Wed, 03 Feb 2010

Farmers across the country are being offered the opportunity to upgrade old, energy intensive equipment or purchase renewable energy technology through a new loan scheme from the Carbon Trust .

As part of its ‘Big Business Refit’ campaign, the Trust is providing interest-free unsecured loans of up to £20,000 to help farmers cut their energy bills by purchasing energy efficient equipment.

Defra, the government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said the loan scheme will slash on-farm energy bills by £4 million and save around 25,000 tonnes of carbon each year.

"It makes sense for farmers to reduce the energy they use – it saves them money, it reduces the cost of producing food, and it cuts the environment impact too," said Defra Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said.

"I would encourage any farmer who wants to reduce their energy costs to apply."

Loans of between £3,000 and £20,000 are available to farmers on a first-come first-served basis, and are designed to pay for themselves through direct savings on energy costs over one to four years.

Peter Kendall, President of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), said: "Improving energy efficiency is a win-win situation because it helps cut agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions as well as saving money for farmers and growers."

"There are already examples of businesses that have taken simple but effective steps to reduce their environmental impact in this way and I hope these loans will enable others to follow suit."
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