Blog Archives

Local Consultants Provide Vital Resource For Green Landowners

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North Energy, based near Stocksfield, Northumberland is winning work by linking  investors to people with land, suitable for wind turbines largely due to the rapid growth in interest in renewable energy prompted by the Government’s Feed In Tariffs (FIT’s) scheme.

A network of new merchant wind companies  are emerging  to take advantage of the Government incentives – these businesses have the capital and financial expertise to help landowners who wish to enter the renewables market – North Energy,  is working with businesses keen to invest in wind turbines of all sizes.

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North East Jobs At Risk Following Latest Developments In FIT’s Saga

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 The Government has said it will appeal against the decision by the Court of Appeal to endorse its earlier decision to rule that it had been wrong for the Secretary of State to cut subsidies for the installation of solar panels before the consultation period had ended.

It is feared that jobs in the region will continue be at risk as installation demand drops off in the face of reduced Feed In Tarriff payments to consumers. Clarity on this matter would have boosted the North East’s growing solar panel installation industry, with customers not knowing whether they are set to benefit from the FIT’s until the legal issues are resolved.

Until the Government finally set a date for the expected lower FIT’s rate is implemented, uncertainty will remian which is detrimental to local jobs in this important sector for our region

We would welcome your thoughts on this…

 

Source: Journal Live

Link: http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news//2012/01/26/north-east-solar-panel-jobs-hanging-in-the-balance-61634-30201560/?campaign=Newcastle_email_journalliveemail:20120126

DECC Clarifies Feed In Tariffs

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Feed in Tariff'sDECC has today laid before Parliament draft licence modifications which make provision for a reduced tariff rate (from 1 April 2012 onwards) for new solar PV installations. There will be an eligibility date on or after 3 March 2012 under the Feed – in Tariffs scheme (FITs).

The DECC Minister Greg Barker has stated that the level of FIT’s must be reduced to avoid the whole of the FIT budget from being overspent. The Government are appealing against a court ruling that has challenged their December 2011 reference date. The judgement of the Court of Appeal is awaited, but today’s announcement is a contingency that will bring the 21p rate into effect from April for installations from 3 March 2012.

The Government intend to press ahead with the appeal as they believe that the industry needs certainty and there is a need to protect the budgets for the FIT’s.

The consultation on the FIT’s scheme closed on 23 December 2011 with over 2,000 consultation responses received which are being analysed by DECC.  The outcome of the consultation is to be announced by 9 February 2012, in time for any resulting legislative changes to come into effect from 1 April 2012. The Government announcement will be accompanied by reform proposals for the next phase of the comprehensive review of the FITs scheme, which will be the subject of a further consultation.

Source: DECC

Link to full story: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/fits_jan12upd/fits_jan12upd.aspx