Renewable Energy Installer September 2014 | Page 5

Greg Barker resigns amid cabinet reshuffl e
Tributes have been paid to former
climate change minister Greg Barker
who resigned his ministerial brief at
DECC during prime minister David
Cameron’s summer cabinet reshuffl e.
The outgoing Barker has been
replaced by Amber Rudd whilst former
energy minister Michael Fallon, who
was appointed defence secretary, has
been succeeded by Matthew Hancock.
Ed Davey, who is a Liberal
Democrat unlike Conservative MPs
Barker and Fallon, will remain energy
secretary.
Both the Renewable Energy
Association and RenewableUK have
credited Greg Barker for his strong
pursuit of green policy whilst in offi ce
and robust defence of the renewable
energy sector.
REA chief executive Dr Nina
Skorupska said: “Greg Barker was the
only DECC minister to have been in
post since the last election. Not only did
he bring stability to the department, he
also brought passion and enthusiasm.
Although during his stewardship he
had to make tough decisions we didn’t
agree with, there is no doubt that Greg
was a champion for green business.
“I hope he continues to be an
advocate for a low carbon economy,
ensuring the UK’s energy is sustainable
and secure.”
Maria McCaffery, RenewableUK
chief executive, added: “RenewableUK
is grateful to Mr Barker who, during his
time as climate change minister, was
a consistent advocate for renewable
energy in government.”
Greg Barker, who has also
indicated that he will step down as
MP for Bexhill & Battle at next year’s
election, tweeted: “It has been a huge
honour to serve in pioneering 1st
Cameron govt, & great privilege to
represent #Bexhill&Battle.”
Highly commended: Greg Barker, who has stepped
down as climate change minister, has been hailed as
a ‘champion for green business’
GDHIF closes to new applicants
DECC has announced the immediate closure of the Green Deal Home
Improvement Fund (GDHIF) due to ‘overwhelming popular demand’.
The move in late July came just days after DECC had initially cut
the cashback payments for a number of energy effi ciency measures
after exhausting the scheme’s fi rst £50m tranche of funding.
New climate change minister, Amber Rudd, said: “The Green Deal
Home Improvement Fund is a world fi rst and in a short space of time it
has proved extremely popular.
“We were always clear there was a budget which is why we
encouraged people to act quickly.
“As a result, thousands more families will now benefi t from
government help to have warmer homes which use less energy.”
GDHIF opened to applications on June 2014 and allowed
homeowners to redeem up to £7,600 in cash vouchers. It was
designed to reward homeowners for choosing Green Deal fi nance and
was widely credited for stimulating demand and allowing installers to
directly access a cash back fund for customers without subcontracting
work to a provider.
Neil Schofi eld, head of government and external affairs at
Worcester, Bosch Group, described the decision-making process as a
farce.
He said: “The scheme was supposed to last for three years and
instead has been wound up after seven weeks. We were promised
certainty and long-term planning and instead have received
ambivalence and short-termism. The decision displays a shocking
inability to demand forecast and a total lack of understanding of the
dynamics of the heating industry.”
www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk | 5