Japan's Gov't Subsidizing the Leasing of Low-Carbon Equipment to Homes, SMEs

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Japan's Ministry of the Environment (MOE) announced on May 31, 2011, the start of a project to promote the commercial leasing of low-carbon equipment to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and households, aiming at widespread use of low-carbon-emitting and energy saving equipment at homes and small businesses.

Under the project, MOE subsidizes the leasing businesses it designates when they lease low-carbon-emitting equipment that meets certain requirements to households or SMEs that have difficulties with covering the high initial investment costs. The ministry provides 3% of the total lease fee. Leasing businesses have to reduce the lease fee by the subsidy equivalent.

Applications for subsidies from leasing businesses have been accepted since June 15, 2011, by the Japan Association of Energy Service Companies. The low-carbon-emitting equipment qualified for the subsidy includes equipment to generate and use renewable energies such as solar power and wind power, industrial machines, and business-use devices. The targeted users of the equipment are households, individual businesses, and small/medium businesses capitalized at under one billion yen (about U.S.$12 million) as well as healthcare corporations with less than 300 employees.

Japanese Government Proposes Leasing of Low-Carbon Equipment to Reduce GHG Emissions (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/030334.html

Posted: 2011/10/04 06:00:15 AM