Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., October 03, 2008 Tishrei 4, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:17 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

State fails to act on clean energy initiative By Ruth Sinai State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss has been asked to launch an inquiry into why the state has failed to install solar-powered hot water systems in every public housing building, as required by law. "Data passed on to us portrays a grim image of inaction and wastage of funds [in relation to this project]," Ran Melamed, Deputy Director General of Yadid - the Association for Community Empowerment, wrote to Lindenstrauss last week. Advertisement To date, energy-efficient solar-powered hot water systems exist in less than 10 percent of public housing apartments. By law, the state is supposed to provide all tenants of public housing with hot water systems. However, public housing companies have often chosen to provide tenants with electric-powered systems because of lower installation costs. In June 2007, the Knesset approved an amendment to the law regulating relations between tenants and public housing companies requiring companies to provide tenants with solar-powered systems. NIS 5 million a year was allocated to implementing the amendment. MKs Ran Cohen (Meretz) and Moshe Kahlon (Likud), who introduced the amendment, claimed the state's previous stance on water heating services provided to public housing tenants was paradoxical, and that citizens seeking cheap housing from the government should not be expected to pay higher electricity bills in order to cut public expenses. Because the bill was passed in the middle of the fiscal year, the finance and housing ministers were concerned that the allocated funds would not be spent properly within six months. They assured the MKs that funds left in the coffers at the year's end would be transferred to the following year's budget. Indeed, the funds were not spent in 2007 but, despite promises, the money was not immediately transferred to the 2008 budget. When the money was finally transferred in late March, Accountant General Shuki Oren ordered public housing companies to be exempt from competing for a tender, in order to enable them to claim the funds and install the hot water systems on time. Because of further delays, the Housing Ministry announced on September 17 that only 150 hot water systems had been installed at a cost of NIS 500,000, out of the goal of 1,940 apartments where hot water systems were intended to be installed. The Finance Ministry said in response that it transferred NIS 5 million to the Housing Ministry as required by law. The Housing Ministry had not responded by press time. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Rise in anti-Semitism ADL warns financial crisis is causing upsurge in anti-Jewish activity on the internet. Bubbes for Obama Comedian posts video calling on Jews to lobby Florida grandparents to vote Obama.

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