Supreme Court rejects Govt solar appeal - and Final Demand petition takes 30,000+ signatures to Downing Street

The Supreme Court has rejected the Government's application to appeal against rulings - from the High Court and Court of Appeal - that its plans to rush through sudden cuts to solar tariff payments are illegal. Friends of the Earth nationally had previously joined two solar energy companies in securing the High Court ruling the Government had acted illegally.

The original sudden decision to cut the level of tariff payment threw the solar industry into chaos and uncertainty, and led to cancellation of solar installation projects and redundancies across the country. Friends of the Earth's victory in the Supreme Court has restored confidence in UK solar power, extended the period of availability for payments and increased the amount of money available under the scheme.

Phase One of our Final Demand Campaign culminated in the presentation of a petition to 10 Downing Street. In Tottenham and Wood Green we collected more than 600 of over 30,000 signatures nationally. The petition urges David Cameron to:

• Launch an independent public inquiry into the Big Six's power over consumers and influence over politicians.
• Not to axe support for clean British energy produced by communities, councils, businesses and shareholders.

Member of our group Stanley Knill was present at the petition hand-in, and can be seen on the right in the photo in our photo gallery.

A recent poll revealed there's massive support for clean British energy:

• 70% of people want the Government to force the energy companies to invest in power from the UK's wind, sun, waves and tides.
• 86% of people support an independent public inquiry into the Big Six energy companies.

Phase Two of the Final Demand campaign is going to show the Big Six how much we want clean British energy and affordable bills.

Watch this space for more soon about how to join the fight for energy independence.