Boris Johnson has waded into the Feed in Tariff fight by calling on energy minister Andrea Leadsom to slow plans to cut subsidies for solar.
The London mayor wrote a letter to DECC today – the last day of the consultation – accusing the government of giving “little or no warning” to an industry on the brink of becoming subsidy free.
The letter states: “The Mayor believes that the solar PV industry needs some certainty over the next few years as it transitions to a subsidy-free and long-term sustainable future.
“The current proposals, which have been consulted on, with little or no prior warning, to come into force in the new year have created great uncertainty in the solar PV industry, potentially putting at threat thousands of jobs across the UK.”
He states that he agrees subsidies need to be reduced by government, but said it needs to be a “gradual tapering” rather than a “sharp cliff edge” drop.
Industry has since said it has been “impressed” with the level of support and the response to the consultation.
REA head of policy James Court said: “The nation has shown its hunger for control over its own energy supply. This consultation is serving as a reminder of why we chose to carve out this course, to pursue a decentralised vision for how the UK produces its electricity.
“Of course it’s about British business, communities collaborating, and installing new electricity capacity as the old plants come offline. Crucially though it’s about people taking a stake in their individual energy futures.“
REA senior policy analyst Lauren Cook added: “What is impressive about the reaction to this consultation is the range of those who have spoken out.
“It demonstrates that when people speak about small-scale renewables, it is not just about financial returns. The discussion is also about reducing emissions, supporting industry, economic growth, and jobs.”
The consultation into changes to the Feed in Tariff closes tonight (Friday 23 October) at 11.45pm.
Image: FreeImages
