For a successful energy transition, good ideas are not enough. It is still – and even more importantly – necessary to ensure their implementation. Unfortunately, serious problems arise at this stage in many cases. The “We Illuminate Poland” program is a good example of this.
The “Illuminate Poland” initiative is the first aid program aimed at local governments that want to invest in modern and environmentally friendly hive lighting. Under it, it is possible to obtain up to 80 percent funding of the investment value, but no more than PLN 4 million.
As CIRE.pl reports, out of 1214 promises granted so far, only two local governments have started the investment. While many others are considering withdrawing from the programs.
The reason for this is mainly formal issues concerning the dependence between local governments and state-owned energy companies, which own most of the lamps along the roads. Hence, a problem arises concerning, for example, the municipality’s eligibility of expenditures on upgrading such lighting from the perspective of public finance discipline regulations.
It seems that without changes in regulations it will be difficult to encourage local governments to take advantage of this – after all, very interesting – program.