Shadow energy secretary attacks government for ‘mismanaging’ solar

Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint has attacked government for “mismanaging” changes to the solar sector’s subsidy. Energy minister Greg Barker recently told MPs on the energy select committee the solar […]

Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint has attacked government for “mismanaging” changes to the solar sector’s subsidy.

Energy minister Greg Barker recently told MPs on the energy select committee the solar Feed-in Tariff would “go bust” if cuts weren’t brought in earlier than April.

But Labour’s new energy representative claims there is a way to handle the cuts that doesn’t risk solar jobs in a “flatlining” economy.

Joining solar campaigners at Downing Street this week to deliver a petition against halving the FiTs, she told ELN: “We are angry at the way [the FiT] has been mismanaged by the Government. It’s putting at threat a baby industry that should be so much a part of our greener future.

“There is a better way to manage this by not going as fast or as deep as they currently are. At a time when growth is flatlining, unemployment is going up, this is an area that is growing and is bucking the trend in terms of our economy.

“Yes, that doesn’t mean the tariff stays where it is but let’s do it in a sustainable way.”

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