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Press Release

GMB back call to halt feed-in tariff cut for solar energy industry

7 November 2011

A blanket cut in support threatens to strangle the industry and put thousands of installers out of work

GMB today commented on the government's proposal to cut the level of the feed-in tariff for power generated from solar energy with takes effect from 12th December. GMB represents hundreds of members who are part of the 25,000 workforce employed on installation across the UK in the solar power sector.

Gary Smith, GMB National Secretary, "A blanket cut in support threatens to strangle the industry and put thousands of installers out of work. The subsidy should be left untouched for social housing. There should be a mechanism whereby the returns received through solar in social housing will be used to encourage further investment in solar and insulating homes. This way we can reduce energy bills for some of the poorer consumers, reduce carbon emissions and grow jobs.

GMB believes that the way the subsidies were initially constructed could be perceived as a regressive form of taxation, whereby the poorest users subsidise those who have a large south facing roof and the money to fit solar panels. The scheme was never designed to support farmers and businesses creating "solar parks" designed to generate generous returns as we have seen happening. It is also true that production costs for solar panels have gone down.”



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