Open letter to Chris Huhne on feed-in tariffs

Dear secretary of state [for energy], A recent newspaper article based on an interview with Charles Hendry (Minister with the energy to bat for Britain, 23 August) suggested that funding "may be slashed" for feed-in tariff technologies such as solar PV and the forthcoming renewable heat incentive. As you know, heat is responsible for 47% of UK emissions and 49% of UK energy demand, so no government serious about climate change or energy security can ignore half the problem. Both renewable heat and solar PV are decentralised technologies, which put the power to generate directly in people's hands. Costs come down when the industry can plan and invest with confidence, and economies of scale are achieved – that is one of the simple aims of these policy mechanisms. They are demonstrably effective at reducing costs – for example, the cost of PV halved in a decade in Germany under a similar scheme and costs under the UK scheme are forecast to more than halve by 2020. The UK's PV market is now finally getting off the ground, with jobs projected to treble in 2010 alone. You published a report with your July energy statement estimating that the cost to households of energy and climate change policies could be counterbalanced by savings from existing energy efficiency policies. We hope Decc ministers will advocate this approach, including in the Comprehensive Spending Review, to explain how essential technological innovation can be paid for. We were disappointed not to see this argument made in recent media coverage. Pursuing energy efficiency alongside renewables is clearly the right approach. Yours sincerely, Gaynor Hartnell Chief executive, Renewable Energy Association Alan Simpson Sustainable energy adviser, Friends of the Earth Peter Kendall President, National Farmers' Union David Caro Chair, FSB Environment Committee, Federation of Small Businesses John Sauven Executive director, Greenpeace UK Ray Horwood CBE Chief executive, National Federation of Roofing Contractors Peter Kindersley Farmer and entrepreneur William Worsley President, Country Land and Business Association Tony Juniper Sustainability adviser and campaigner Frances O'Grady Deputy general secretary, TUC Howard Johns Chairman, Solar Trade Association Brian Berry Director external affairs, Federation of Master Builders Chris Baugh Assistant general secretary, Public and Commercial Services Union Andrew Lee General manager, Sharp Energy Solutions Europe Neil Schofield Head of sustainable development, Worcester Bosch Gavin Hayes General secretary, Compass Ed Mayo Secretary general, Co-operatives UK Julia Craik Managing director, The Premises Studios Ltd Derry Newman Chief executive, SolarCentury John Meadows Managing director, Schott UK Dave Sowden Chief executive, Micropower Council Leonie Greene Campaign manager, We Support Solar Andrew Leech Executive director, National Home Improvement Council Craig Jackson Senior architectural technician, South Yorkshire Housing Association Limited