EC warns UK of legal action against solar subsidy cuts

(SeeNews) – Dec 9, 2011 – The European Commission yesterday became the latest body to question the decision by the UK government to slash solar power subsidies, with the European Union executive arm threatening legal action against the coalition, the Independent said today.
Guenther Oettinger, the EU Energy Commissioner, on Thursday said that all EU members are prohibited from changing their renewable-energy policies in a way that prevents them from meeting their targets to cut greenhouse emissions or undermines the renewable-energy sector. He added that the EC would take measures, including legal ones, against the UK, in case the government's policies weigh on the progress of meeting green targets.
Oettinger was responding to a question by Jean Lambert, Green MEP, who argued that the UK's plans to halve the feed-in tariff (FiT) for solar would hit investor confidence, deplete the market for solar companies and endanger jobs.
The UK government in October announced plans to slash the FiT to GBP 0.21 (USD 0.33/EUR 0.25) per kWh from GBP 0.43.
(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.562/EUR 1.172)

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