Solar panel workers take tariff reduction protest to Westminster

Staff from Strategic Energy, which is based in Castleford, West Yorkshire, have criticised Government plans to slash the subsidies for household solar electricity. They joined a protest of 1,000 ‘solar supporters’ at Westminster.

The CBI director-general John Cridland recently described the plan to halve feed-in tariffs, which are paid to people who generate electricity from small scale renewables, for domestic solar panels as “the latest in a string of Government own goals”. Under the proposals, the subsidies will be halved for new units installed from December 12, before consultation is due to end.

Ministers say the reductions are necessary to ensure that the feed-in tariffs paid for household solar, which has proved much more popular than anticipated, do not end up costing consumers – who pay for the scheme on their bills – too much.

Staff from Strategic Energy want the Government to reverse its decision to drastically reduce feed-in tariff payments or extend the cut-off point for homeowners to benefit from the higher rate feed-in tariff. Bosses at Strategic Energy believe this would give solar firms the chance to build a new business platform.

Strategic Energy has created 53 jobs in the last year. Martin Davidson, a director at Strategic Energy, lobbied his local MP, Conservative Philip Davies, who represents Shipley. Mr Davidson said: “We’ve installed systems to hundreds of homes and businesses that are now saving money and helping to cut carbon emissions. But all of this is at risk if the Government take an axe to this policy.”

Margaret Wood, the chairman of the Institute of Directors in Yorkshire, said the Coalition needed to support industry, not introduce measures that stifled growth and development.

She added: “I hope MPs listened to the Castleford workers.”

Mr Davies said yesterday: “I met with Martin and listened carefully to the concerns he expressed. I promised to take them up with the Minister and to send him the Minister’s response.”

Leeds-based Oakapple Renewable Energy is still forging ahead with a £100m investment in the solar panel sector, despite the proposal to cut the subsidy.