Small change...'We Support Solar' outside DECC.

Staff at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), in central London, today found two ten pence pieces on the pavement outside their main entrance. This was no ordinary loose change, but two giant 8ft coins. They were brought to the department by us, ‘We Support Solar’, a group of construction industry workers wanting urgent Government action on green jobs. As followers will know by now, an extra 10p on the proposed solar photovoltaic (PV) tariffs under the Government’s forthcoming Clean Energy Cash Back scheme is all that is needed to deliver rapid solar jobs growth in the mainstream roofing and wider construction sector from 2010.

Each of the 30 workers outside DECC donned a ‘green’ shirt collar to represent the 30,000 new UK solar PV construction jobs that could be created over the next four years under an effective Clean Energy Cash Backscheme. Under the Government’s current proposals however, the UK solar PV market will continue to lag behind that of Belgium with only 3,000 new solar jobs likely by 2013, just 10% of the realistic potential.

Crossing Westminster Bridge towards Parliament.

Our group included solar power supporters TV celebrity Oliver Heath, from ITV’s ‘Dream Homes’; Alan Simpson MP, Government advisor on the Clean Energy Cash Back scheme;  Colin Challen MP, Labour Chairman of the Commons All Party Climate Change Group and Ray Horwood, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) and Carol Wrench, Head of Public Affairs, Electrical Contractors Association. The event was also backed by the largest union in the UK, UNITE and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA).  Between them, the NFRC, FMB and ECA represent almost 16,000 UK building companies.

Oliver Heath said: “Solar power can play a significant role in the greening of our buildings, while providing tens of thousands of new green jobs. The world is waking up to this, but the UK Government’s proposals fall far short of what’s needed to boost investment and jobs in solar PV. If the ‘Clean Energy Cash Back’ scheme aims to deliver just 0.5% of UK electricity from solar power by 2020, it’s hardly surprising. Lets change the situation and see to it that that more electricity is generated locally - the repercussions will be many and positive. I believe in solar energy - that’s why I’m planning it for my own home refurbishment.”

Colin Challen MP; Alan Simpson MP; Lord Hunt; Carol Wrench; Ray Horwood; Oliver Heath calling for 10p.

Ray Horwood CBE, Chief Executive, National Federation of Roofing Contractors said: “Over 100 NFRC member companies have been trained to date in installing solar PV, bringing new jobs and new opportunities to roofers up and down the country. But this is literally just scratching the surface of the massive jobs potential that could be unleashed very quickly by higher tariffs under the Clean Energy Cash Back scheme .”

Dougie Rooney, National Officer for Energy and Utilities, Unite the Union said: “The opportunity for 30,000 clean energy jobs by 2014 should not, under any circumstances, be turned down. We represent our 2 million members with this view and call for 10p to be added to the ‘Clean Energy Cash back’ scheme. Young men and women have been hit hard by unemployment over the past year and apprenticeships in the solar industry offer them much needed, well paid, long term skilled employment. This is a real solution; the Government must leap on this chance to enhance the Engineering Supply Chain and plug losses in the job market.”

'Green Collar' workers calling for more jobs in clean technology

Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs, Federation of Master Builders said: “By increasing the clean energy cash back level for solar PV by at least 10p, the government would be helping to kick start economic recovery in the British construction industry - allowing solar energy to play a significant role in the greening of our housing stock. The FMB wants to maximise solar jobs for our members.”

Paul Reeve, Head of Environment, Electrical Contractors Association added: “Feed-in tariffs need to be set sufficiently high to stimulate consumer demand and ultimately create jobs in the green sector. Providing credible incentives will have many positive benefits for industry, the economy and the climate change agenda.”

Alan Simpson MP, Government advisor on the Clean Energy Cash Back scheme said: “The clean energy cash back scheme can deliver massive benefits for UK jobs and the economy during the next Parliament. It can only do so if Ministers resist the siren calls of the schemes critics and are bold enough to put in place meaningful tariff levels for solar PV and other renewable electricity technologies.”

Colin Challen MP Labour Chairman of the Commons All Party Climate Change Group said: “The Clean Energy Cash Back scheme can deliver a massive and very rapid jobs boost to UK building companies. At a time when roofers and builders are literally crying out for concrete action on green jobs, we need effective solar PV tariffs from 2010 to drive new investment and new skilled jobs throughout the construction sector.”

Jonathan Porritt, Founder Director, Forum for the Future added: “The limited scope and ambition of the Government’s proposed “clean energy cash back” scheme is a huge disappointment.  If Ed Miliband leaves his department’s consultation proposals unchanged, we will be turning our backs on many tens of thousands of skilled green jobs during the next Parliament. The good news is that it’s not too late to put in place an effective scheme, one that can deliver rapid uptake of solar PV and other renewables, drive new investment, boost building sector employment and give us a fighting chance of actually delivering the 2020 renewable energy target.   I am very happy therefore to back the ‘We Support Solar campaign’s call for another 10p to be added to the proposed solar PV tariffs.”