Labour has slammed changes to the tax relief system for community renewable projects, claiming the government is taking away certainty at a time when the industry needs it most.
Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Lisa Nandy has responded to the plans for community solar and wind, hailing it nothing more than “reckless and dangerous.”
She said: “The reckless set of decisions by ministers to unravel energy policies designed to get new cleaner power stations built is damaging our energy security at a time when we urgently need investment to keep the lights on.”
The UK government announced last month that community energy projects will be excluded from the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) from next month.
HM Treasury said projects will be stopped from 30 November this year, adding that community schemes will also be prevented from getting Social Investment Tax relief (SITR).
Nandy continued: “(These plans) also mean we will see higher levels of carbon pollution right at the time when Britain should be leading the way to achieve a strong climate agreement at the Paris Summit.”
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‘Reckless’ tax changes slammed
Labour claim energy policy change will result in long-term damage
By EBS