Hawkesbury hotels and motels can apply for energy-saving grants – be quick – scheme closes April 1

Small and medium hotels, motels and serviced apartments across the Hawkesbury are being encouraged to apply for a grant program that can help reduce energy use, improve energy productivity and deliver carbon abatement.

But you will need to be quick – you’ve only got until April 1 to apply, and the scheme could be shuttered before then if funds are exhausted.

The Federal government are pitching this today as a ‘new’ grant program, but it has been open since around mid-February.

Through the government’s $10.2 million Hotel Energy Uplift Program, hotels, motels and serviced apartment complexes with up to 99 rooms can access grants of up to $25,000 for energy-saving projects, with at least 400 grants on offer.

Projects that could be funded include:

• Upgrading air conditioners or refrigeration systems to more energy efficient models

• Installing energy efficient lighting

• Replacing single-glazed windows with double-glazed windows

• Installing monitoring systems to better manage energy use

Work on any funded projects needs to be completed by June 30, 2022.

Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, said the launch came at an important time, as the tourism and accommodation sector looked to get back on its feet.

“The hotel industry has been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Minister Taylor said.

“With 80 per cent of small to medium hotels located in regional Australia, these grants will provide a significant boost to our regions.”

Liberal Senator for Western Sydney, the Hon Marise Payne, said the government program was a part of the Economic Recovery Program.

“Providing employment for locals and hospitality and accommodation for tourists, our hotels and motels are part of the lifeblood of the Hawkesbury economy,” Senator Payne said.

“Like the extension of the instant asset write off scheme, the launch of the Hotel Energy Uplift Program is all about providing practical, targeted assistance to businesses and support for local jobs as we come back from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Funding has been distributed across states and territories, with New South Wales allocated the highest amount of funding.

“I strongly encourage local accommodation owners and operators to consider submitting an application for this valuable funding opportunity,” Sen Payne said.

The Hotel Energy Uplift Program was announced in the 2020-21 Budget as part of the Government’s $1.9 billion investment in new energy technologies.

Grants under the Program have been on offer since mid-February.

Applications will close on April 1 (or earlier, if funding is exhausted). To view the program guidelines, visit: https://www.energy.gov.au/government-priorities/energy-programs/hotel-energy-uplift-program.

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