The Clean Air Employers’ Association (PCP) has issued a strong appeal for urgent corrective actions in Poland’s Clean Air program and the activation of additional bank operators to support its implementation.
Despite its strategic importance for Poland’s energy transition, the program continues to face months-long delays in grant disbursements, severely affecting both beneficiaries and reliable contractors. The rollout of the program’s new phase via local governments is also reportedly dysfunctional or marred by irregularities.
“We’re deeply concerned about the growing backlog of grant payments, which in some cases dates back to August of last year,” said Mariusz Dąbek, President of PCP.
“Delays of this magnitude are unacceptable in a program critical to the energy transformation of our country. They create disproportionate burdens for both homeowners and contractors.”
A Complex Program Needing Coordinated Oversight
The PCP Association highlights that the Clean Air program is one of Poland’s most complex implementation projects, involving a vast number of stakeholders, investments, and inherited systemic challenges. This underscores the need for efficient and constructive collaboration—both within managing institutions and with external partners—to devise a realistic plan for clearing backlogs and managing operational risk.
PCP representatives argue that the entire contractor sector is bearing the cost of systemic flaws and avoidable abuses. Many reliable contractors now face serious liquidity issues, while beneficiaries are left in stressful limbo, unable to finalize their energy-efficiency investments.
“Families modernizing their homes feel confused and frustrated. We’re not asking for special treatment, but for a system that doesn’t punish honest contractors. Currently, good work is met with systematic delays—this must change,” said Aleksandra Piotrowicz-Przyłuska, Vice President of PCP.
Local Governments Under Strain
The association also raises serious concerns about the new program model involving municipalities as operators. According to reports from the field, many local governments suffer from severe staff and skill shortages. Additional complaints include:
- Unfounded accusations against honest contractors
- Informal favoritism toward specific local companies, often with personal ties to municipal staff
“These practices undermine the fairness and purpose of the program,” added Piotrowicz-Przyłuska.
While acknowledging the intent to boost local entrepreneurship, PCP stresses that any implementation must adhere to principles of fairness and transparency, as well as the core mission of the Clean Air program and expectations of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW).
Banks Can Restore Efficiency and Trust
PCP is calling for the urgent activation of additional program operators, particularly banks, which can help restore operational efficiency, transparency, and stability.
“We understand the complexity and scale of the program, but it’s unacceptable for responsible companies and thousands of homeowners to suffer the consequences of systemic delays,” said Dąbek.
“We urge swift action, collaborative partnerships, and the immediate launch of bank operators under the program’s updated framework. We cannot accept discretionary exclusions of contractors who meet program requirements—we need transparency and equal treatment.”
Call for Constructive Dialogue and Reform
The PCP Association expresses its full readiness to collaborate on concrete solutions, including:
- Accelerating payouts
- Simplifying and standardizing final application assessments
- Restoring balance between oversight and operational efficiency
The association hopes that these measures will help restore public trust and unlock the program’s full potential for driving Poland’s clean energy transition.
Source: ceo.com.pl
Organization: Clean Air Employers’ Association (Związek Pracodawców Czystego Powietrza)
