Solar Stocks Feel the Heat: Report Spain Plans Subsidy Cut

Solar stocks are again feeling the heat from a report that Spain plans sharp reductions in subsidies for solar power. On Friday, a number of solar stocks dropped sharply after Lehman’s Vishal Shah asserted in a research note that the country was considering sharp cuts in its solar subsidy program. Today, there were further reports on the same theme.

According to Bloomberg, the Spanish newspaper Cinco Dias reported that the Spanish industry ministry is considering cutting the electricity rate paid to photovoltaic installations by as much as 35%.

The story reports that the ministry would set a limit of 300 megawatts of new capacity for the industry for next year, 200 for roof-top installations and the rest for ground equipment. The new tariff would be 33 Euro cents per kilowatt-hour for roof installations and 29 cents for ground panels, down from about 45 cents. (Shah last week had said the proposal could be 33 cents for roof-top installations, and 25 euro cents for ground-mounted.)

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