A new industry campaign urging the government to rethink its cuts to small-scale renewables has been launched.

Two industry bodies – RenewableUK and Solar Trade Association – have joined forces in an effort to oppose the government’s plans to cut financial support for projects including wind and solar.

The pre-accreditation of the Feed-in Tariff scheme for all new participants will also be removed from next month.

The campaign called ‘People Power’ is calling on the public as well as those working in the renewables sector to petition the government to provide “more stable support to these maturing sectors” by writing to their local MP and using social media.

RenewableUK claims the current plans “are in danger of causing substantial job losses” to the green energy sector and home-grown electricity would be “out of reach” to householders, small businesses and farmers.

Gemma Grimes, Director of Policy – Consents & Intelligence at RenewableUK said: “This campaign is about sending a simple message to Government: don’t wreck an industry, which for the first time has given people the power to control their own energy supply. Small-scale renewables is an extraordinary success in the UK, creating thousands of new green jobs and allowing local communities to generate their own clean energy.

“The Feed-In Tariff provides a lifeline to the rural economy, allowing farmers and small businesses to diversify their income and save on their electricity bills, especially during tough economic times. The government’s actions are in danger of consigning this great work to the past.”

Latest statistics from the government revealed renewable energy has surpassed coal in supplying electricity to the UK for the first time.

Last week, former Energy Secretary Ed Davey slammed the Chancellor’s renewable energy cuts as “economic idiocy”.