Another acceleration on the road to better air

Malopolska’s local governments have taken another step toward improving air quality in our region. The Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow has entered into agreements with 25 municipalities in the province, which have decided to act as Operators of the Clean Air Program in the pilot program conducted in Małopolska.

Clean Air Action

On October 5, the signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Board of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, Plenipotentiary of the Prime Minister for the Clean Air Program and energy efficiency of buildings Paweł Mirowski, President of the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow Kazimierz Koprowski and Deputy Marshal of the Małopolska Region Józef Gawron.

The 25 municipalities in Małopolska that joined the signing of the agreements were represented by their respective mayors together with municipal treasurers. It is worth emphasizing that the role of municipalities as Operators is crucial to the success of the program, since it is the municipalities that are closest to the residents and can effectively support them in the process of modernizing their properties for energy efficiency improvements.

What does the pilot program consist of?

The Clean Air Program is an initiative that was adopted with the aim of improving air quality in Poland. One of the key elements of this program is financial support for owners of single-family homes for the replacement of heat sources and thermal modernization of buildings. The pilot study, which begins in Małopolska, is aimed at accelerating the program’s activities and increasing the efficiency of environmentally friendly measures.

The pilot involves the creation of a network of Operators to help residents effectively replace heat sources and thermo-modernize their homes. Operators will act as guides for potential participants in the Clean Air Program, especially targeting those with the lowest incomes.

The tasks of the Operators will include:

• identification of potential beneficiaries and assistance in the process of replacing an old furnace or thermal modernization of the house,
• preliminary estimation of investment costs and the amount of subsidies,
• assistance in the selection of equipment, materials, contractors and support in concluding contracts with contractors,
• submission of applications for subsidy and payment (and their possible improvements), collection of the resulting documentation,
• supervision of the implementation of the work in accordance with the terms of the Clean Air program.

The operators’ services will be completely free of charge for residents. Operators, on the other hand, will be entitled to remuneration for successful activities. Payment will depend on the number of beneficiaries obtained from the poorest group, the type of investment carried out and the positive settlement of the investment.

The agreement to serve as Operator was entered into:

1. Budzów municipality
2. Bystra-Sidzina municipality
3. Ciężkowice municipality
4. Czchów municipality
5. Dąbrowa Tarnowska municipality
6. Koszyce municipality
7. Krzeszowice municipality
8. Miechów municipality
9. Mszana Dolna municipality
10. Myślenice municipality
11. Nowe Brzesko municipality
12. Olesno municipality
13. Skawina municipality
14. Słopnice municipality
15. Stary Sącz municipality
16. Stryszów municipality
17. Sułkowice municipality
18. Trzebinia municipality
19. Wietrzychowice municipality
20. Zielonki municipality
21. Biecz municipality
22. Czernichów municipality
23. Liszki municipality
24. Łapanów municipality
25. Wadowice municipality

The pilot program was developed in cooperation with representatives of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Marshal’s Office of the Malopolska Region, the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow and World Bank experts.