The Solar Trade Asssociation’s thuggish approach to innovators and whistleblowers in its back yard is again laid bare with the STA justifying their unlawful exclusion of Solartwin from membership by them writing:

In light of all the Solartwin website published information about the STA and your actions in sending out information to Which? magazine…

plus assorted other threatening guff in the email below from David Matthews, Chief Executive (Time Lord) of STA…

Here is the original documentation, in reverse chronologiocal order.

Dear Barry

The January 2010 date was given because of your current actions towards the Association and wider solar industry. There is no way we can reconsider your membership whilst you partake in repeated aggressive and damaging actions in various public fora.

After a cooling off period I would be pleased to engage with you again and as long as we can engage in a constructive discussion around your and other solar technologies.

Therefore, I will not be responding to further contact from you for the foreseeable future

Regards

David

From: Barry Johnston
Sent: 29 January 2009 16:46
To: David Matthews
Subject: Re: Your email (STA membership refusal)

Dear David,

I hope you are well.

I must point out that there is an error in that the date of 2010 given below. It is a year late. Notwithstanding the fact that we have been improperly refused membership and we regard ourselves as having continued rights to membership, we applied a year ago. Therefore we wish to reapply now, in 2009.

So please may we have the appropriate application documentation by return. Unless that is, if   the rules have been rewritten in the STA’s usual unwritten way (for the purposes of stifling innovation) to have a two year break, applied selectively for Solartwin / Legionella L8 compliant technology?

I look forward to your assistance in rejoining.

Regards, Barry at Solartwin.

On 23/1/09 17:28, “David Matthews” wrote:

Dear Barry

In light of all the Solartwin website published information about the STA and your actions in sending out information to [a leading consumer magazine]; I have to remind you that the Solar Trade Association’s articles state that “If an application for membership is refused no fresh application for membership can be made within one year from the date of the application for membership (or the last application for membership if there has been more than one), whether or not the applicant has appealed.”   As such, there is unlikely to be any benefit served by continuing any correspondence at this time, though we will of course be willing to reconsider your membership application in January 2010, providing there have been no further instances where your action could potentially damage the legitimate business interests of other STA members.

Regards, David Matthews

Chief Executive
Solar Trade Association
National Energy Centre
Davy Avenue
Knowlhill
Milton Keynes MK5 8NG

Remember:

1/ When the STA next appear on BBC Watchdog claiming to be the good guys, please ask whether you share their perspective that “aggressive and damaging actions” are really the problem with Solartwin. Because it is us who   seek to innovate and adopt what we think are the best safety precautions for solar users.

2/ And if you buy a solar panel from an STA member ask, before you sign: Will the installation be HSE Legionella L8 guidance compliant?