Our big solar court case

19 December 2011

On 31 October the Government announced a 50% reduction in payments to households and communities generating electricity through solar power.

But it gave just 6 weeks' notice before the cut-off date - which arrived before the end of a consultation on the issue.

Friends of the Earth believes the decision is premature, unfair and unlawful.

Our campaigners and legal team have been working hard to prepare the case.

Listen below to our Parliamentary Campaigner explain more about the court case.

Solar eclipsed

Since 2010 there have been 100,000 new solar projects and a ten-fold increase in jobs.

But the Government's abrupt action has led to

• Thousands of solar projects being shelved or abandoned.
• 29,000 solar jobs lost or at risk.

Friends of the Earth believes the Government must ensure a secure future for solar energy in the UK.

The payments - known as Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) - should support an ambitious roll-out of solar projects across the country to help:

• Boost the economy and create jobs.
• Reduce household energy bills.
• Cut climate emissions.

And while feed-in tariff payments should reduce as solar costs fall, this must be done in a planned and measured way.

Please sign our petition asking David Cameron for affordable and cleaner energy. Thank you.