Archived press release

Liberal Democrats and Conservatives promise bolder green electricity payment scheme

28 April 2010

The Liberal Democrat and Conservative Parties have made welcome election pledges to boost support for local green electricity schemes and encourage households and communities to benefit from them, Friends of the Earth revealed today (Wednesday 28 April 2010).

Friends of the Earth contacted the main political parties as part of its campaign to improve the Government's feed-in tariff scheme launched earlier this year (1 April 2010). The scheme guarantees long-term payments to homes, businesses, councils and communities for all the renewable electricity they generate from small-scale systems such as wind and river turbines and solar panels.

The environmental campaign group, which led the campaign to introduce a feed-in tariff, contacted the three main parties asking them to set out their proposals for improving the scheme, provide more help to low-income households and communities and increase the installation of small-scale, decentralised energy generally. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats both sent enthusiastic responses committing their parties to a more ambitious scheme.

• The Liberal Democrats promised £400 cash for anyone who installs micro-generation technologies and said tariff payments should be high enough to enable the investment to pay for itself in ten years (the current return is 5-8 per cent).
• The Conservatives promised to increase the maximum size of projects eligible for feed-in tariff payments to 10 megawatts - equivalent to four large wind turbines - to encourage communities to invest in, and benefit from, renewable electricity developments. They also pledged to reverse the unfair situation where those pioneers who have already installed renewable electricity systems are excluded from the full tariff payments.
• Labour have no plans to improve the scheme.

Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have put forward welcome proposals for making the feed-in tariff scheme more ambitious and ensuring that more of our electricity comes from safe, clean sources.

"People who've already installed microgeneration technologies, but are refused the full benefits of the current scheme, will also be pleased that the Conservatives plan changes so they can receive the same payments as new installations.

"Labour deserve credit for introducing the feed-in tariff, but it is disappointing that they are now not aiming any higher on this crucial issue.

"Households, businesses, communities and local councils must all be encouraged to play their part in tackling climate change - ensuring that they share in the financial benefits of a greener future is a great way to do this."

Notes to editors:

1. Friends of the Earth's letter to the three main parties and their response can be seen at: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/decentrailed_energy_letter.pdf
2. A renewable heat incentive is due to come into force next year.
3. A YouGov survey for Friends of the Earth, the Renewable Energy Association and the Co-operative Group, published in January, revealed that 71 per cent of homeowners said they would consider installing green energy systems if the feed-in tariff scheme was generous enough.
4. Friends of the Earth is running its most aggressive election campaign ever to make sure politicians push the environment up the political agenda. To sign up or read our regular blogs on the General Election visit www.foe.co.uk/election
5. Both Labour and the Conservatives also support the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive next year.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust