PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
REDUCTION IN FUNDING FOR SOLAR POWER (10 September 2015)

That this House notes with great concern the Government's plans to cut support for solar power by cutting the feed-in tariff by 87 per cent; believes that will be extremely destructive for the solar industry; observes that solar power is renewable, carbon-free, and is rapidly becoming cheaper, with the cost coming down by 70 per cent in the last five years; understands that the UK must switch urgently away from fossil fuels in order to fulfil its commitment to cut carbon emissions and avoid dangerous levels of damage to the climate; further believes that it is crucial to support solar and other renewable sources of energy in order to achieve this switch; entirely opposes the plans to cut support for solar power, and believes that instead the Government should step up support; further notes that solar power is rapidly becoming cheaper and is approaching parity with fossil fuels, but as a new and rapidly growing industry it requires support; further observes that dangerous and polluting fossil fuels receive a huge amount of taxpayer subsidies; notes that this cut to support for solar power will save at most £6 per household on energy bills, but that energy companies routinely over-charge their customers by £230; notes estimates that getting solar power to grid parity would cost just an extra £1.70 per year on energy bills; observes that solar power has a huge amount of public support, unlike fracking; and calls on the Government urgently to reconsider these plans.

Sponsored by:
Mr Roger Godsiff (Labour)