Minister of National Infrastructure Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has a creative way to conserve energy – by subsidizing modern energy efficient air conditioners, dishwashers and other appliances and raising the cost of electricity. The bill is being opposed by the treasury, primarily due to its impressive NIS 600 million price tag over a ten year period.

Ben-Eliezer feels that citizens will not live without air conditioning and other appliances, and those with working units will not necessarily update to energy efficient models – unless the government kicks in with an incentive program. According to experts in Ben-Eliezer’s office, by implementing his new plan, energy consumption in 2020 can be cut to 20% less than energy demands in 2006.

Ben-Eliezer’s plan also calls for prohibiting imports that are energy wasting, not detailing exactly which appliances he is referring to.

The minister feels that raising the cost of electricity would generate the funds to pay for his ten-year plan.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)