A PLAN to slash subsidies for household solar power has been slammed as “nonsensical” by a Kirklees councillor.

Clr Andrew Cooper, who leads the four-strong Green group on Kirklees Council, said a Government plan to reduce subsidies for household solar electricity could threaten up to 25,000 jobs.

Subsidies for household solar electricity are to be halved under proposals put out for consultation by the Government yesterday.

The widely-expected cut, which ministers say is necessary to make small-scale renewable subsidies sustainable, would come in for panels installed from December 12.

Bigger schemes would also see their rates reduced under the changes to the feed-in tariffs programme, which pays people for the electricity they generate from small-scale renewable technology. Currently people can claim 43p for every kilowatt of electricity they generate off their roof but the Government now plans to cut this to around 21p. Clr Cooper urged people in Huddersfield who were considering solar panels to get their plans in before December, to avoid being hit by the new cuts.

Ministers have warned that feed-in tariffs (FITs), which pay people for the electricity they generate from small-scale renewables, must be cut for solar to reflect cost reductions in the technology and the current economic situation.

Installations of solar photovoltaic panels have outstripped expectations and the Government claims reductions in the subsidies, which are funded from consumer bills, are needed to ensure that the scheme is sustainable.

Clr Cooper said: “These cuts by the Government are nonsensical.

“Over 25,000 people are employed in the solar industry and these cuts are a threat to them.

“The cost of the Feed In Tariff is very small, less than 50p a year on the average fuel bill and a fraction of the cost of Government subsidies of nuclear power stations. As always it is those on the lowest incomes who will suffer the most.

“This cut will jeopardise free solar schemes for people unable to afford the upfront costs of solar panels and planned schemes for council tenants properties which are self-funding under current Feed In Tariff arrangements but may not be following the proposed cut.”

Chris Hopkins, of Brighouse-based Ploughcroft, which includes a solar panels division, said: “Production and manufacturing prices have dropped massively over the last 12 months. Solar panels are becoming more efficient, which means the average domestic roof installation only takes one day now, when it used to take two. This is making the market much more competitive – and attractive.

“Companies that entered the solar industry purely to join in the solar gold rush are unethical and unsustainable. The current FIT makes it too good to be true for them, and the proposed lower FIT rate will mean they cease to exist. Long-term, this is good for the industry as we need companies who are committed to the renewable cause.”

Clr Cooper said: “If people install solar panels now before the cut is due to take place in December then they will get the 43p rate for the next 25 years if they were to install them after that they would get less than half that.”

A list of installers in this area can be obtained from the Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Partnership website www.yhmp.org