With the announcement of the final feed-in tariff rates postponed until (probably mid) January, a frenzy of lobbying has erupted for a more ambitious settlement that will deliver more renewable energy, and more British jobs in manufacturing and installing. If you want to join in, here are some suggestions from the Renewable Energy Association for what you might do, and some arguments you can use. Also don't forget to reiterate the call for equal rates for existing microgenerators.

Suggested actions:

• Contact your MP by phone, email or letter and ask them to sign EDM 276 on Feed-In Tariffs and Renewable Energy.  The EDM text has been crafted so that MPs from all parties should be able to sign.  Find your MP here.
  

• Write a letter to your MP using this link or by snail mail at: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA to call for an ambitious 10% UK Tariff scheme. See below for suggestions to include in your letter.
  
• Write the same letter to:
  Ed Miliband, Secretary of State, DECC, 3 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2AW. 
  Lord Mandelson at  BIS, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET. 
  Dr Greg Clark (Shadow Secretary of State for DECC, House of Commons London SW1A 0AA).
  Simon Hughes, (Shadow Secretary of State for DECC, House of Commons London SW1A 0AA).
  Alistair Darling at the Treasury; 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ.  
  

Possible arguments to use in your letter (from REA):

"A 10% Return on Investment (ROI) (as defined by Element Energy/DECC) will drive maximum rates of renewables deployment and deliver at least three times more renewables than the government’s current proposals. As reported in The Guardian, a 10% ROI will cost each household £1.20 more per year to 2013, when we would expect the first 3-year review.

Tariff should be set at a level that ensures early and confident investment in domestic innovation and manufacturing. Good Tariff levels will attract inward investment, reduce technology costs, and position the UK to capitalise on the export potential for what is fast becoming a major global industry.

The current government ambition to deliver just 2% of electricity by 2020 through the Tariff scheme is disappointing and far lower than has already been achieved by other European schemes. Such low ambition means the UK could miss out on the huge employment and economic growth potential that goes with committed investment in green technological innovation and mass manufacturing.

Much has been said by politicians of all parties over the past year about the need for green growth and the value of investment in low-carbon technologies and manufacturing. We now need you to show your confidence in green UK innovation and enterprise by backing an ambitious Tariff scheme. You can show your support by signing EDM 264. We would welcome any further efforts on your part to persuade the government of the need to vigorously back an industry that has so much to offer the UK’s security and prosperity."

Parliament goes into recess on 16 December, so if you can do it before then, it will have more impact.

Photo by therussiansarecoming

If you have a question about anything in the above blog, please ask it in the comments section below.