GreenWeek

By subscription only 20mph speed limit London council to bring in new main road speed limit to reduce air pollution P3 £11bn carbon bill Scotland warned it faces huge bill to achieve carbon reduction targets P4 Green energy costs Carbon watchdog report blames energy bill rises on gas P7 ClickGreen’s review of all the week’s news, views, research and analysis with a focus on low carbon and sustainability GreenWeek By ClickGreen staff High Court judge has ruled in favour of an application by Friends of the Earth and two solar companies – Solarcentury and HomeSun – for permission to challenge Government plans to cut the Feed-in Tariff for solar PV. The appeal ruling now means the organisations can submit a legal bid to block the Government’s decision at a further, urgent hearing next Tuesday and Wednesday. Friends of the Earth also asked the High Court to cap its potential legal costs for the case. International rules specify that costs should be limited in public interest cases on the environment. The legal challenge centred on Government plans to slash Feed-in Tariff subsidies – payments made to households and communities that generate green electricity through solar panels – on any installations completed after 12 December this year. The Government is currently running a consultation into Feed-in Tariffs, but the 12 December cut-off comes two weeks before this ends. Friends of the Earth says this premature decision is unlawful and has already led to unfinished or planned projects being abandoned. Mr Justice Mitting, sitting in London, said today the proposals had given rise to “economic risk” for those engaged in the solar industry and the challenge should be heard as a matter of urgency next week. Friends of the Earth campaigners outside London’s High Court on Thursday Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director Andy Atkins said after the hearing: “We’re delighted the High Court has given the go-ahead to our legal challenge. These proposals have already had a disastrous impact on the solar industry – fledgling clean businesses have had the rug pulled from under their feet and a shadow hangs over thousands of jobs.” John Faulks, Company Secretary, Solarcentury, added: “We are pleased with the decision but it is only the first step of the legal challenge. The Court agrees that we have a case to argue and has given us permission to challenge DECC. “Next we need to persuade the Court that DECC has acted illegally. That will happen as soon as possible. The legal challenge is Volume 2: Dec 16, 2011 Court verdict throws Feed-in Tariff campaigners last-minute lifeline Judge gives go-ahead for legal challenge against Government proposals A only part of the wider campaign by Solarcentury and the solar PV industry to get the Government to recognise the strategic value of solar PV in the energy mix and maintain viable support to build a successful industry.” He added: “The industry was expecting a cut in tariff and would have actively engaged with DECC to create a sustainable scheme including accepting significant but workable cuts. A cut of over 50% that occurred in just six weeks and before the end of a consultation period is cynical and irrational. “Win or lose on Tuesday next week the industry still has to sort out the chaos DECC have already caused.” HomeSun CEO, Daniel Green, said: “We are delighted with this decision. Solar has been the most popular energy efficiency and microgeneration measure that this country has ever seen. “HomeSun believes that having We’re delighted. These proposals have already had a disastrous impact on the solar industry Andy Atkins, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth an ‘effective date’ in the middle of a consultation is not only unlawful but could set a dangerous precedent for all future government consultations.“ The premature cuts could cost up to 29,000 jobs and lose the Treasury up to £230 million a year in tax income, a report commissioned by Friends of the Earth and the campaigning Cut Don’t Kill alliance revealed last month. Construction firmCarillion Energy has already placed its entire 4,500 workforce on statutory redundancy notice because of the proposals.

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