The Conservative Environmental Network (CEN) has released its manifesto, outlining ideas for how the Conservative Party could tackle the climate emergency, including the removal of barriers to solar and storage.
The CEN, an independent forum, MP caucus and membership organisation for conservative MPs that are supportive of conservation and decarbonisation, released its “optimistic” manifesto yesterday.
The removal of the feed-in tariff (FiT) and subsequent wait for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), as well as the proposed increase in VAT from 5% to 20%, mean solar is facing “unnecessary headwinds”, the CEN says.
In its manifesto, the CEN suggests the scrapping of the proposed VAT hike. Legislation for the change in VAT was put forward late last month, despite having received strong criticism from industry.
The manifesto also suggests that the government should review the export tariffs for solar. Details of the SEG were released in June after the FiT closed its doors on 31 March, marking an end to the policy hiatus between the two when the SEG comes into effect on 1 January 2020.
A declaration accompanying the manifesto, which states several beliefs held by the CEN including the UK’s duty to be a global leader and that a prosperous, innovative market economy is the best way to get to net zero, has been signed by 41 serving MPs.
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