David Cameron, in his original incarnation as Tory leader, was an advocate of the green agenda; cycling everywhere, visiting the Arctic (albeit by plane) and fixing a wind turbine to the roof of his west London home. (No matter that he was forced to take it down due to complex planning issues).
Yet the new prime minister has just axed a major scheme (the “Low Carbon Buildings Programme”) that gave grants for households and companies to put solar panels or wind turbines on their premises. So far it has helped 20,000.
To be fair the programme had already been limited to thermal microgeneration in recent months and was destined to end next spring. It is to be replaced with the feed-in tariff system (whereby you can sell your renewable power back to the grid). Even so, it could have made a difference over the next 11 months: it’s demise is worth noting.
(DECC says it will save £34m by closing this and other unspecified business support programmes).
UPDATE: The Renewable Energy Association says:”The announcement has increased the sense of uncertainty faced by the UK’s infant renewable heat industry.”
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey