Spain, in the midst of a less than ideal economic situation, recently made some retroactive cuts to its solar energy incentives. Not cool, dude… not cool. That messes with investor confidence, citizen confidence, and also the country’s ability to combat global warming (not to mention its ability to recover from the economic situation it’s in).
In response, some Spanish organizations, businesses, political parties, social groups, and organizations have reported the country to the European Parliament. In particular, the associations argue that Spain will not be able to meet its 20% renewable energy by 2020 target, which is a part of the European directive 2009/28/EC. They also argue that the changes will result in the violation of European directive 2009/72/EC, which concerns European electricity market rules.
The release also notes a rather obvious violation of the law: “Remember also that the cuts have been retroactive and thus violate the principle of legitimate expectations established by the Court of Justice of the European Union.”
“They are putting at risk a strategic sector in Europe vital to reduce energy dependence and achieve the environmental objectives of the European Union,” the petition states, according to a press release on the website of Unión Española Fotovoltaica (UNEF). Furthermore, this “could be followed by other states, putting at risk the achievement of the objectives of the Directive on renewables,” the petition adds.
A quote from the UNEF press release translated from Spanish using Google Translate notes: “the measures taken by Spain in recent years make it impossible to develop renewable energy, a sector that has faced successive legislation and changes in market rules of the game: retroactivity cut production hours, new taxes, moratorium, no premiums update by IPC or abolition of the premium market mode.”
The petition has been signed by the Platform for a New Energy Model citizen-group, which is “composed of individuals and organizations over a hundred environmental, social, business, trade unions and political parties and major business associations in the renewable energy sector in Spain, such as: Acluxega, AEBIG, AEVERSU, Agæn, Anpier, Appa, Aprean, Apuee, Aremur, Aserma, Asit, Avaesen, EolicCat, Protermosolar Solartys and Unef.”
Good luck to these Spanish leaders in getting Spain’s horrendous solar policy moves corrected.
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