Green Industry Reacts With Shock And Anger To Renewable Energy Subsidy Cuts

Industry leaders and campaigners have reacted with shock and anger at Government plans to overhaul subsidy support for the renewable energy industry with a series of cuts and rule changes.

RenewableUK, the trade association representing the wind, wave and tidal energy industries, has expressed dismay at the announcement by Energy Secretary Amber Rudd of fresh retrospective changes in the levels of financial support for clean energy.

The Minister has announced that the Government intends to change the rules governing the Feed-In Tariff, so that the level of financial support for medium-scale onshore wind projects can no longer be guaranteed in advance.

The renewables industry argues that this vital measure, known as “pre-accreditation”, provided certainty to projects while they were being developed, as they could bank on a certain level of support which would not be cut. Ms Rudd also announced a wider review of the Feed-in Tariff which also supports small-scale renewables.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery said “This announcement is yet another hand brake turn on energy policy. It will cause dismay in Britain’s medium-scale wind energy sector. Removing certainty will worry energy investors and can only increase the cost of developing renewable projects. Government knows this, but is pressing ahead regardless.

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