Councillor Andrew Cooper, Chair of the Association of Green Councillors has urged householders to install solar panels as soon as they can. Following newspaper reports and mistakenly leaked documents. it has become clear that the Government has plans to halve the Feed In Tariffs for solar photovoltaic panels.
Currently people can claim 43 pence for every kilowatt of electricity they generate off their roof but the government now plans to cut this to around 21p from the beginning of December.
Councillor Cooper who has solar panels himself said: “If people install solar panels now before the cut is due to take place in December then they will get the 43p rate for the next 25 years if they were to install them after that they would get less than half that.”
Councillor Cooper continued: “These cuts by the government are nonsensical. Over 25,000 people are employed in the solar industry and these cuts are a threat to them. The cost of the Feed In Tariff is very small less than 50p/year on the average fuel bill and a fraction of the cost of government subsidies of nuclear power stations.
“As always it is those on the lowest incomes who will suffer the most. This cut will jeopardise free solar schemes for people unable to afford the upfront costs of solar panels and planned schemes for council tenants properties which are self funding under current Feed In Tariff arrangements but may not be following the proposed cut. The government’s claim to be the Greenest Government ever is looking increasingly hollow and lacking in substance.”
Penny Kemp Environment Spokesperson said: “No matter how many Ministers try to justify this new direction, it makes no sense either financially or environmentally. The Green Party is unable to understand the logic of this decision. By investing in renewable technologies, not only does the Coalition Government help combat climate change and create jobs but equally importantly it gives Councils a further incentive to help the fuel poor as well as increasing local authority revenue.
