Press release

Government cuts solar energy support

31 October 2011

Commenting on the announcement today (31 October 2011) of Government plans to slash incentives for household solar electricity, Friends of the Earth's energy campaigner Donna Hume said:

"The Government has cast a dark shadow over our thriving solar industry - making such deep and sudden cuts to incentives could put tens of thousands out of work.

"Greg Barker says he wants to make subsidies fairer - but the new rates mean that unless you have significant savings, you're unlikely to be able to afford solar panels.

"The Government should be encouraging more people - not fewer - to save money by making their own electricity, freeing us from the stranglehold of the Big Six energy firms who are pushing up our bills.

"Thirteen thousand people are urging David Cameron not to kill off clean energy through Friends of the Earth's Final Demand campaign - he must step in to reassure households and businesses."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1.    The feed-in tariff [FIT] scheme pays households, businesses, councils, hospitals and schools to create clean power through systems like solar panels. It has been hugely successful to date, with the creation of 80,000 new solar installations and 22,000 new jobs over the last two years.

2.    Government figures show that in the last three months the total take up of FITs (316MW) was almost double that of the previous quarter (164 MW), and over 20 times that of the first quarter (15.2MW). Most of the increase is due to a huge increase in demand for solar PV.

3.    Friends of the Earth says payments to people generating their own solar power should only be cut in line with falling costs of solar technology - while overall ambition for the feed-in tariff scheme should be increased, to allow more people to participate and protect jobs.

4.    Friends of the Earth research shows that a green energy revolution is needed to stabilise energy bills in the long run. 

5.    Earlier this month Friends of the Earth launched its new campaign, Final Demand, calling for a public inquiry into the Big Six energy companies and a fair energy system. The giant energy companies are making huge profits by keeping us hooked on expensive fossil fuels. The campaign is asking people to sign its petition to David Cameron.

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