Cymdeithas Tai Eryri

It's been a couple of roller coaster years for anyone involved in renewable energy and the proposed changes to the Feed in Tariff (FIT) worsens the situation for housing associations. In a world of spiralling energy prices its suddenly become more difficult for us to provide solar PV for our tenants, one of the most reliable ways of cutting a householders fuel bills.

In recent years Cymdeithas Tai Eryri has developed a Solar PV installation programme worth over £3m- supporting 6 local companies who have successfully reached the MCS accreditation. From a standing start two years ago almost 500 systems have been installed across Anglesey and Gwynedd. Support from government schemes like ARBED and FIT have been fundamental in helping us achieve this. We've created jobs, supported the local economy, reduced Carbon and helped fuel poor tenants cut their fuel bills - what's not to like?!

Suddenly overnight these conditions have changed: the proposed FIT tariff for social landlords are LOWER than for anyone else. Our sector cannot now apply directly for ARBED2, and we are unclear as to where we fit into Green Deal or the new ECO . Instead of being recognised as an important stakeholder we find ourselves in a nightmare of funding restrictions and red tape.

Sadly we've seen this before - there's been a pattern of boom and bust renewable schemes from successive governments- low carbon building programmes, clear skies, NFFO - all ran out of money like FIT did- its just this time there are more casualties. How many times must history repeat itself before we do things differently?

We are working with Community Housing Cymru to lobby against these disastrous proposals and to see whether mechanisms like the Revolving Guarantee Loan Fund used in Eastern Europe can provide longer term stable funding for the massive retrofit programme still required for social housing in Wales.

Dewi Llwyd, Cymdeithas Tai Eryri