Plans to change the tariff paid to council’s who generate and sell electricity will be challenged by Gloucestershire County Council.
The Government’s proposals for a fundamental review of the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariff Scheme (FITs), help could impact the council’s future solar photovoltaic projects.
At a meeting in July, Cabinet agreed that ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy generation facilities be installed on many building in the council’s estate.
This would generate energy and reduce the council’s utility bills and carbon footprint and surplus electricity would be sold back to the government.
If the tariffs in the Renewables Obligation and Feed-in Tariff Scheme (FITs) were changed or reduced as the government is planning, this would affect the income generated and the council’s future budget.
At a meeting of the full council yesterday, Cllr Jeremy Hilton, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, proposed a motion that the Leader of this Council writes to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change requesting that any intended changes do not put at risk public sector/community-led schemes.
The motion was given cross-party support.
Cllr Hilton said: “The council was going to build five solar farms across Gloucestershire which would have generated 15MW of power and reduced the council’s utility bills and carbon footprint and help to support the revenue budget.
“It’s disappointing that the feed tariffs rates are not being maintained at the same price that was available at the time the project started.
“Hopefully in future the costs of building these solar farms will be reduced so that we can reinstate the project.”
Cllr Will Windsor Clive, Conservative cabinet member for planning, said: “I understand the government’s reasons for making changes to the feed in tariff system.
“However, I hope that the Secretary of State can have a look at the affect on local council and community-led renewable energy schemes and see if she can find a way to offer them continuing support.”
Cllr Lesley Williams, Leader of the Labour Group, said: “We need to find as many ways as we can to generate energy. I am disappointed that subsidies have been removed by Central Government and we are already seeing job losses as a result.”
Cllr Alan Preest, Leader of the UKIP Group, said: “We have fought long and hard on renewables, as the feed-in tariffs lead to mass fuel poverty.
“I think some commercial developers are led by greed, whereas I welcome the council using its land in this way for social benefit.”