Press release

Government review could exclude poor from green energy scheme

14 March 2011

A Government review of the feed-in tariff scheme expected this week could limit green electricity production and hit poor people the hardest, Friends of the Earth said today (Monday 14 March 2011).

The green campaigning charity warned that lowering the scheme's ambition could prevent communities from earning and saving money by generating electricity from green energy sources like wind and hydro power - just at a time when the UK needs to wean itself off fossil fuels.

The Government says a feed-in tariff review is needed because of concerns about the growth of commercial solar farms - but Friends of the Earth and other groups fear that it will also be used to stop community groups, housing associations, schools, hospitals etc benefitting from green electricity payments.

Friends of the Earth is calling on Ministers to boost investor confidence by limiting the review to solar farms - and trebling the UK's target for renewable electricity generated by households and communities.

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

"This unnecessary review has already stopped green energy projects fast in their tracks - and it could hit poor people the hardest.

"Cutting support for the scheme will prevent community groups, housing associations and schools benefiting from producing green power - exactly the opposite of what the Coalition agreement promised.

"The feed-in tariff scheme should be expanded, not watered down - the Government should boost investment in green energy by only reviewing solar farms, and treble our target for powering our homes and communities with green electricity.

"Soaring fossil fuel prices and the spiralling cost of nuclear make it more important now than ever that the UK develops its huge green energy potential - boosting the economy and creating new jobs."

ENDS

Notes to editors

1.   The feed-in tariff review will be completed by the end of 2011. DECC says tariffs will remain unchanged until April 2012 unless the review shows a need for them to be changed sooner. The review includes a fast-track consideration of solar photovoltaic projects (over 50kW) and a study into the take-up of feed-in tariffs for anaerobic digestion plants on farms. More information is available on DECC's website.

2.   Friends of the Earth says that the feed-in tariff review should be limited only to solar farms above 500kW, thereby enabling households and communities to continue benefiting from creating their own green electricity. The green campaigning charity said that solar PV would pay for itself before the end of the decade, and that unless the £400 million cap imposed on the scheme at the Comprehensive Spending Review is lifted communities will be prevented from taking part.

3.   A Friends of the Earth briefing on the feed-in tariff review will be available later today from Friends of the Earth's press office. Contact marie.reynolds@foe.co.uk, or call 0207 566 1649.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust