Friends of the Earth has followed through on its threat to take the Government to court after Ministers failed to respond to concerns it set out in a legal letter last week.
The Government failed to respond to a letter outlining the charity’s concerns that unless the Government agreed to amend its proposals by 4PM on November 11, it would commence court proceedings. The Government replied to the letter with a simple holding note explaining that the issues raised are not considered pressing enough to reply within the stated deadline.
Friends of the Earth's Policy and Campaigns Director Craig Bennett said:
“Ministers have failed to listen to our concerns about the legality of its plans to slash solar subsidies – we have now been left with no choice but to take the Government to court.
“Slashing payments to any scheme completed after 12 December will unfairly pull the plug on thousands of clean energy schemes across the UK, preventing homes and communities from escaping soaring fuel bills.
“Ministers have pulled the rug from under the feet of one of the few areas of the economy that is creating new jobs – and completely undermined business confidence in clean energy.”
Friends of the Earth now joins a group of solar companies, led by Solarcentury, who are taking legal action against the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
