The Lib Dem Council Group Leader and Deputy are asking the Government to re-think its decision on the reduction of feed in tariffs on photovoltaic solar panel installations.

In a letter to Chris Huhne, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Cllrs Ian Marks and Bob Barr say they agree with the reduction in subsidy which was not sustainable at the high level, but they ask for it to be done on a slower timescale to allow the industry to plan for the reduction.

Cllr Marks added, “This decision by central government was too hasty and is having a direct impact on Warrington.  Council officers have done an excellent job installing solar panels on 308 properties, slightly more than originally planned.  These have been registered before the deadline but the rest of the 600 are on hold.

Fuel poverty is an increasing problem.  These installations and the other ones planned for the future would have had an important impact on keeping homes warm.  We hope the Government will have a re-think as a result of all the lobbying they are receiving from up and down the country. They may be forced to re-think because following the High Court hearing yesterday, there is to be a Judicial Review next week to determine if the government has acted illegally.”

Letter to Chris Huhne

PROPOSED CHANGE TO FEED-IN TARIFFS FOR PV INSTALLATIONS

 We accept that the feed-in tariff at its current level is too generous and not sustainable.  However we are concerned at the speed at which the 50% reduction and the further 20% reduction for social housing schemes are due to take place.  We are also concerned that the change was implemented on 12 December before the end of the consultation period on 23 December.

We have a number of general worries.  In the current economic climate there is a danger that green initiatives are being pushed aside and the speed of change will be a further blow to private and public confidence in the need for carbon reduction.  This could be detrimental to the implementation of the Green Deal.  The solar industry now employs 39,000 people which is a large increase on the 3000 employed before the introduction of feed-in tariffs.  This expansion has been a major driving factor in reducing the cost of installing solar power by 30% which is the reason it was right to reduce the subsidy.  The sudden reduction in subsidy will certainly mean a loss of jobs not to mention an increase in carbon emissions.

Here in Warrington the decision was made to install PV on 600 properties in partnership with Golden gates Housing Trust – an organisation set up a year ago when we transferred our ex-Council Houses from an ALMO to a Trust.  Work started on phase 1 on 24 October with a contract for 300 properties.  Phase 2 which is the remaining 300 properties was put on hold because there was no chance of completion before 12 December.

These installations were focused on our most deprived wards as part of our ‘Closing the Gap’ programme.  These wards are in the top 10% most deprived wards in the country and the measures would have taken many people out of fuel poverty.  These 600 were only a start because an additional 3000 were planned, not to mention more properties with other registered providers.  At this late stage we ask you to think again about extending the timescale for council and community properties.  We await the result of the High Court action on Thursday with interest.

Until last May, Warrington was a Lib Dem led council.  We promoted green initiatives like the use of solar power and set up our ‘Closing the Gap’ programme to bring greater fairness into our town.  We are concerned that this change will be a retrograde step and adversely affect the initiatives we promoted when in power.