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A report published by Reuters has advised that the Constitutional Court has endorsed a Czech tax on solar power producers as part of the government’s push to cut budget deficits and subdue the solar boom in the country. The ruling means that solar plants which came online in 2009 and 2010 are affected.
Following his defeat to be premier of North Rhine-Westphalia on Sunday by the Social Democrats (SPD), Norbert Roettgen, once seen as a potential successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, was fired by Merkel today from his position as her environment minister. Reuters reported that Merkel has nominated Peter Altmaier, parliamentary whip for her conservative party, to replace Roettgen.
The UK Solar Trade Association (STA) has called for a delay to planned feed-in tariff cuts in a bid to boost installed capacity figures. In a letter to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) the association asks for the proposed July cuts to be held off until figures pick up.
Last week, two-thirds of the German states in the Budesrat voted against the draft EEG bill. It has now been passed to the Mediation Committee, which has three sessions in which to be able to reach a decision. Katherina Reiche, secretary of the Federal Environment Ministry has offered €30 million of federal funds for PV research and development as an incentive to the Committee to agree in favour of the government’s proposed drastic cuts to the feed-in tariff, reports the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper. Failure to reach a decision would result in a veto from the Bundestrat, which would be overridden by the Bundestag.
US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Phoenix, Arizona, mayor Greg Stanton unveiled the details of a US$25 million programme to allow affordable solar power access to 1,000 Arizona homeowners. The second phase of the US’ largest city-sponsored residential solar financing program launched today thanks to the cash infusion from the National Bank of Arizona (NBA). The program is estimated to generate 234 direct and indirect jobs.
Italy could alter its subsidy cuts deadline from July 1 to October 1, reports Deutsche Bank. At a technical meeting of state regions conference last week, former undersecretary of industrial activity, Stefano Saglia, announced the current Conto Energia 4 would remain in place until the €7 billion limit were reached if this change was to occur.
The German Federal Council has determined that that the bill earlier adopted by the German Parliament for the reduction of solar subsidies will be going to a mediation committee, which will allow for the federal and state governments to negotiate finding a comprise. If the members do not find a resolution, the Federal Council has the ability to file an appeal against the bill, which could override Parliament’s decision with an absolute majority vote.
Representatives from the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE), the government body directing alternative energy development, have announced the country’s ambitious long-term goals for solar power. The oil-rich kingdom aims to have installed 41GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar PV projects by 2032, 25GW and 16GW respectively.
Socialist François Hollande has been elected as President of France, bringing further concerns and hopes to the country’s already flagging solar industry. Dubbed “Mr Normal”, he has promised a 25% reduction in nuclear facilities by 2020, an investment in alternative energy generation and improving energy efficiency.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, has announced it will omit net-metering purchase prices from the new feed-in tariffs due to be implemented in July. Instead, the government has decided that in order to avoid confusion, current rates will be extended for three months until June and kept separate from the feed-in tariff.
