Waller champions solar power (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Waller champions solar power

March 23, 2005 2:26 PM

Andrew Waller, Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for York has called for the Government to reverse their decision to cut grants for new solar power schemes.

The cuts end a grant allocation scheme for solar power, which harnesses sunlight to generate electricity, officially planned to run until 2012.

Andrew Waller said, "this is a tremendous setback to the solar power industry, and conflicts with everything that we want to achieve in York. We need to be taking steps forward to cut down on climate changing gases. Studies for the York Eco Depot showed that at the moment PV cells have a payback time of over 100 years because they have not been fully developed.

"This is yet another Government failure in a long list of broken promises on renewable energy. Pulling out of an investment scheme that was promised until 2012 is a disgrace.

"The Germans are putting in 100 times more solar power than we are, and they are helping their local renewable energy companies to flourish."

Notes to Editors

1) The 2003 Energy White Paper contained clear pledges to implement a "2002-2012 solar PV programme in line with our competitors". The Prime Minister highlighted his own personal commitment to the solar PV industry by appearing on the rooftop of Solar Century for a photo call prior to his major speech on the environment only last September.

2) In answer to a recent Parliamentary Question (08.03.05), the Energy Minister, Mr. Mike O'Brien, stated:

"The Major PV Demonstration Programme is due to end in March 2006. Grants are expected to be paid up to March 2007. The Department will continue its support for PV through a "low carbon buildings" programme. The low carbon buildings programme is currently under development and there will be formal consultation on this later this year. The programme is expected to begin operating in 2006-07. "

This "low Carbon Buildings" programme has an undefined budget, uncertain start date and will not be committed to solar power.

3) See the Renewable Power Association, www.r-p-a.org.uk for more details.