High Court rules in favour of solar legal challenge

15 December 2011

We took action after the Government proposed slashing financial support for small-scale solar energy production by more than half.

The plans have already led to thousands of projects being cancelled and solar jobs lost or put at risk.

But today the judge ruled that the Government has a case to answer - after it proposed slashing solar support before the end of its own consultation on the issue.

He agreed that this is potentially unlawful and granted a full hearing next week.

The subsidies, known as a feed-in tariff, are payments to households and communities generating green electricity through solar panels.

Premature

Government plans to abruptly halve the rate householders and community groups get for producing solar energy has already led to unfinished or planned projects being abandoned.

Recent research also shows the move could cost £230m a year in tax that will no longer be collected.

Announcing these plans before the outcome of the Government's own consultation is premature and has led to the current legal challenge.

Opposition

More than 200 organisations have signed a joint statement calling for the Government to reconsider its plans.

The Confederation of British industry (CBI) has described the Government's actions as an "own goal".

We believe Government's plans to move the goalposts and prematurely pull the subsidy are not only unfair, they're also illegal

Andy Atkins, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth