Renewable energy industry groups have urged the government to reverse planned cuts to support for small-scale renewable energy installations. A joint campaign led by RenewableUK and the Solar Trade Association was launched on Friday. The campaign was set up in opposition to Government plans to cut financial support for small-scale wind turbines and solar panels.

Under the banner People Power, the trade groups are calling for members of the public, workers in the renewable energy sector, and those from other industries which stand to benefit from renewable technologies to demand that the Government provides more stable support, using social media and appealing directly to local MPs.

According to the groups behind the new campaigner, the Government’s plans to end support for renewables are in danger of causing substantial job losses in the sector; they said this will also hamper the viability of emerging clean energy generation projects in local communities around the country.

The potential changes mean that a huge number of renewable energy projects would no longer go ahead and that home-grown electricity will be out of reach to ordinary households, farmers and small businesses.

Gemma Grimes, Director of Policy – Consents & Intelligence at RenewableUK commented, “This campaign is about sending a simple message to Government: don’t wreck an industry, which for the first time has given people the power to control their own energy supply. Small-scale renewables is an extraordinary success in the UK, creating thousands of new green jobs and allowing local communities to generate their own clean energy.

“The Feed-In Tariff provides a lifeline to the rural economy, allowing farmers and small businesses to diversify their income and save on their electricity bills, especially during tough economic times. The Government’s actions are in danger of consigning this great work to the past”.

Leonie Greene, Head of External Affairs at the Solar Trade Association added, “Poll after poll shows the great majority of the public strongly supports local renewable energy. Yet Government proposals for Feed-In Tariffs are extreme and they will stop families and communities from investing locall yin clean energy all over the UK. This would be an astonishing step backwards as we head toward crucial climate talks in Paris.”

“To prevent this happening it is vital that people make their voice heard in Parliament right now. Individual voices are small but together we can deliver a message that Westminster cannot ignore.The Action for Renewables website makes it easy for people to contact their MP and urge them to fight these proposals and protect people power”.