Environmental charity Friends of the Earth have given the UK Government an ultimatum- amend their recent Feed-in Tariff decision or face legal action. The charity has written to Climate Change Minister Greg Barker and given him until Friday 11th November to make changes.
The Government has severely cut support for solar and, by April of next year, anyone looking for support for PV will receive less than half of what they currently earn. Friends of the Earth says the new cut-off point, two weeks before the consultation ends, is unlawful and will lead to people losing out as projects may get abandoned.
Friends of the Earth’s Policy and Campaigns Director Craig Bennett said: “The Government is breaking the law with its plans to fast-track a solar industry kill-off- as well as jeopardising thousands of jobs and countless clean energy projects across the country. Significant time and money has been invested planning solar schemes for homes, schools and libraries- giving them just six weeks to install is completely unacceptable and schemes have already been scrapped. Ministers must amend their proposals and extend the deadline for solar tariff payments, or face a judicial review.”
The Government ordered a review of feed-in tariff payments for small scale solar schemes earlier this year and said payments would remain unchanged until April 2012, unless the review reveals a need for greater urgency.
Related stories:
The Global Energy Conversation Part II: Solutions to 2050
Solar boss accuses Barker of telling Parliament
Efficient buildings could raise productivity by £8bn
Government watchdogs call for evidence on FiTs change
