UK govt risks facing legal action over renewables - FoEI

If the UK government does not work out an adequate plan for meeting its renewable energy goals for 2020 it could face legal challenge by Friends of the Earth (FoEI), the latter warned on Tuesday.

Yesterday, during a session of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, Secretary of State Amber Rudd confirmed that the country is on course to miss its legally binding renewables targets. According to estimates, the UK will fall short of the 2020 objective by about 50 TWh, or 3.5 percentage points, representing a quarter of the targetted 15%. These figures were revealed in a letter leaked to The Ecologist, and confirmed on Tuesday by Rudd.

Friends of the Earth said that serious additional action is needed so as to ensure the UK meets the targets and noted that the recently proposed cuts to wind and solar support will only worsen the situation. “We will be writing to the Government to set out our concerns and warn of the potential legal consequences if its renewable energy action plan is inadequate,” said energy campaigner Alasdair Cameron.

Govt must have effective renewable energy plan, or risk legal challenge: https://t.co/Cm73JRpbNi #saveoursolar pic.twitter.com/epLwwogwHp

— Friends of the Earth (@wwwfoecouk) November 10, 2015

The UK's binding EU target is to supply 15% of its energy across electricity, heat and transport from renewable sources. Failing to do so, it will face EU fines.

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