Growers are being urged to take advantage of huge savings, potentially totalling £1.9 million in the horticulture industry, through the Climate Change Levy (CCL) agreement.
Growers now registered to get CCL discount are saving an average of £14,000 a year in tax payments, on top of the energy savings associated with the scheme, with a registry deadline of the end of July.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) claims that when the CCL was introduced by government in 2001 as a new tax to encourage businesses to save energy, many growers saw it as an extra cost.
Growers of protected horticultural crops who meet energy-saving targets can get an 80 per cent CCL discount, thus vastly reducing the impact of the tax, according to the NFU.
Chris Plackett, from energy experts FEC Services, which runs the scheme for the NFU, said: “The current discount arrangements end in 2013 and to meet the rules any new entrants or people wishing to rejoin must start their application process as soon as possible.
“Some growers have been put off joining the scheme because they think it is too complex and are frightened that they won’t meet the energy-saving targets. While the targets are challenging, most growers are able to meet them and make significant savings in the process. Even if they don’t meet their target, participants can take part in carbon trading and still save money.”
Sarah Fairhurst, quality controller at Porters Horticultural Ltd, said: “The scheme encouraged us to look at our energy costs, to think about how we could improve the way we use energy, and to assess whether savings could be made. We have been able to take simple low-cost measures that have saved us energy and, in turn, money. Joining the scheme focused our minds and has made us more aware of energy saving generally.”
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