The UK government has called time on solar support, onshore wind and the Green Deal at a time when the country’s democratic machinery is in snooze mode. The industry has to make an even bigger noise in order to be heard and that process starts with you.
The consultation on changes to the renewable obligation for solar last year attracted 65 responses. The changes to the feed-in tariff (FiT) just 36. With parliament on its summer break and the consultation process ending before there is a chance for proper democratic scrutiny, there is little chance for scrutiny at the highest level.
Secretary of state Amber Rudd pulled the plug on the Green Deal 24 hours after she faced questions in the commons. Some might call that cynical. There is still a chance to have your say however.
While not every business in the industry has the capacity to take time off the rooftop to compile a detailed response to the latest consultations, simply registering your disapproval of the plans helps. The government is unlikely to be moved off its current course but if that is the case, a bulging pile of on-the-record disapproval remains a helpful tool for future reference. If the government is serious about consulting on those changes, then a pro-active and productive engagement with the consultation could be crucial. Silent acceptance and vocal but unconstructive disapproval are as unhelpful as each other.
The industry needs to offer viable alternatives to the current proposals that don’t make the residents of Number 11 Downing Street spit out their Lady Grey tea. Register your disapproval and suggest what other changes could help the industry continue its success.
Whether you would like to propose an alternative plan or simply to submit a response to the consultations’ questions registering your disagreement, please do. Why not also tell them how much corporation tax you’ve paid since 2011 or how many jobs you support? And perhaps how many could go if the proposals were adopted as they are.
We’re not going to tell you what to say but we will help you say it! There are two separate consultations running, details of each below:
Changes to FiT accreditation
The deadline:
19 August 2015
The address:
Consultation questions:
1. Do you agree that, in the context of deployment and spend under the FIT scheme significantly exceeding expectations, it is appropriate to remove the ability to pre-accredit from the FIT scheme?
2. Are the assumptions made above on the impact of removing pre-accreditation reasonable? Please provide robust evidence to support your response.
3. Are there additional measures which could achieve the objectives of encouraging deployment under the scheme while ensuring value for money under the LCF?
4. Are there groups or sectors where it may be appropriate to reintroduce pre-accreditation in the future?
Changes to support for Solar PV
The deadline:
2 September 2015
The address:
Consultation Questions
1. Do you agree with our projections for the amount of new solar PV capacity likely to deploy under the RO in 2015/16 and 2016/17? Please give reasons and provide evidence to support your answer.
2. Do you agree with the proposal to control the costs of the LCF by early closure of the RO to new solar PV projects of 5MW and below from 1 April 2016? Please give reasons and provide evidence to support your answer.
3. Do you agree that deployment costs for solar PV projects of 5MW and below have reduced significantly since the last banding review? Please give reasons and provide evidence to support your answer.
4. Do you agree with the proposal to control the costs of the LCF by the removal of grandfathering for solar PV projects of 5MW and below that are not accredited as of the date of this consultation? Please give reasons and provide evidence to support your answer.
5. Do you agree with the proposed grace periods for early closure, including the date from which eligibility would apply and their duration of one year? Please give reasons and provide evidence to support your answer.
6. Do you agree with the proposed exception from the removal of grandfathering, including the date from which eligibility would apply? Please give reasons and provide evidence to support your answer.
7. Do you agree with the proposed forms of evidence to demonstrate eligibility for the grace periods? Please give reasons and provide evidence to support your answer, specifying the form(s) of evidence to which each comment relates.
8. Do you agree with the proposed forms of evidence to demonstrate eligibility for the exception from the removal of grandfathering? Please give reasons and provide evidence to support your answer, specifying the form(s) of evidence to which each comment relates.