By Kari Williamson

Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins, says: "Government plans to slash solar payments will pull the plug on thousands of jobs and cast an enormous shadow over an industry that is helping to kick-start a clean energy revolution.

"The solar industry has been one of the UK's brightest success stories in the last two years, helping homes and communities across the country free themselves from expensive fossil fuels.

"We believe these plans are illegal as well as ill-advised – so we are taking action to bring Ministers to court."

Friends of the Earth says the Government's actions are unlawful because:

• It will unfairly cause the abandonment of numerous planned solar schemes that would have been completed between 12 December and April 2012; and
• The wording used in the Government proposals indicates there is little prospect that Ministers will keep an open mind about representations made while the consultation period is ongoing – something they are legally obliged to do.