From the Liveblog of
Monday, June 1, 2026
Energy Ministry and national lottery invite municipalities to go solar with $135 million in loans
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter
The Energy Ministry announces a partnership with the national lottery, Mifal HaPayis, to create a new NIS 380 million ($135 million) fund to offer subsidized loans to local authorities to launch renewable energy projects.
Mifal HaPayis routinely allocates its profits to help local authorities fund health, educational, welfare, cultural and arts projects. Under the new scheme, each authority will be able to borrow 50 percent of the value of its allocation at an interest rate of prime minus 1.25 percent for up to ten years.
The funds, which will be in addition to the Mifal HaPayis grants, will be used to install solar panels or renewable energy storage or to make energy use more efficient.
The Energy Ministry estimates that there are 1,600 public buildings earmarked as assembly points in emergencies.
Adding solar panels and storage could produce enough energy to keep the power going in these facilities during a crisis, a ministry statement says. It also sees potential for using solar panels to create shade at some 3,500 sports fields, most of them in kindergartens and schools.
The ministry will help the local authorities calculate the financial worth of moving to renewable energy. Unused solar energy would be purchased by the Israel Electricity Company, yielding income to the provider.
Renewable energy — mainly solar in Israel — made up 16% of all electricity last year. The state’s goal is to reach 30% by 2030.
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