News: Solar PV cuts.
Govt strategy is to appeal.
Real strategy is to buy time.
The Guardian reports that UK’s government is preparing to appeal against last month’s high court decision which described its plans for hasty cuts to solar feed in tariffs (FITs) as “legally flawed”, leaving the solar industry in chaos over the current level of incentives for new solar installations.
On Wednesday the Government’s Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) will file a last-ditch appeal against last month’s ruling by Mr Justice Mitting, who said it would be illegal for the government’s proposed cuts to have an “effective date” of 12 December, two weeks before the consultation officially ended on 23 December.
Mr Justice Mitting gave DECC had until 4 January to seek an appeal, but he also warned that any appeal would have limited chances of success.
In a surprise move, one which shows the power of social media, the UK’s Climate Minister Greg Barker today confirmed on Twitter that DECC would meet the appeal deadline, and restared that Government remains committed to halving the subsidy available for solar installations to ensure the scheme does not exceed its budget.
“Budget means 4 every 1 new taker @ 43p, 2 homes won’t get it at 21p,” he wrote.
Our view at Solartwin, is that this seems like a cunning tactic to stall for time and to stifle the market whilst issuing a new consultation anyway. Government probably suspect they will lose but it it a budget saving exercise. They clearly hope to shorten the next solar PV gold rush from over 8 weeks to 8 weeks minus appeal length. In other words, they will deliberately string out any appeal process for as long as possible in order to heighten the uncertainty.
Cunning, if it is legal.
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