North Ayrshire & Arran MP Katy Clark has expressed concern over the UK Government’s policies on renewable energy following the latest cut to the feed-in-tariff for the installation of solar panels.
Proposals in the Coalition Government’s Energy Bill confirm that, as of August 1st, the feed-in tariff for solar, which is intended to promote small scale renewable energy installations, will be cut from 21p per kilowatt hour to 16p per kilowatt hour. The tariff has already been cut this year, from 43p to 21p, with the period customers are eligible for the tariff also reduced, from 25 years to 20.
Katy Clark told the3towns, “This Government came to office promising to be the greenest ever. Unfortunately, time after time, its actions fail to match its words.
“Recent data has indicated that, following the cut to the tariff earlier this year, the number of installations in the United Kingdom fell by 90 per cent, and I fear this second cut will further damage the solar industry, which currently employs 25,000 people.”
The Labour MP says the UK Government should be “looking to properly invest in renewable and green technologies, which will both reduce the United Kingdom’s carbon footprint and create long-term, sustainable jobs,” adding, “They should also be putting the policies in place to encourage the private sector to invest in such projects.”
Ms Clark said, “The Energy Bill is basically doing exactly what the ‘Big Six’ energy companies have been asking for and encourages large-scale projects rather than small-scale, local projects to produce energy and conserve what we have.
“The message that is being sent to those looking to invest in the renewable sector is that they cannot rely on Government’s long term support.”
Katy Clark noted, “These two latest announcements show yet again the direction of travel of this Government, which is putting the interests of the ‘Big Six’ energy companies before those of ordinary people.”
No comments:
Post a Comment