Well it's one hell of a challenge as a recently released report on European use of renewable energy in 2010 (admittedly not reflecting any actions by Cameron's government) shows the UK in 25th position out of the 27 European Union countries.

Way out in the lead with 46.9% of its energy coming from renewable sources is Sweden, benefiting as it does from abundant potential for hydro-electricity generation.  Second is Latvia with 34.3% and third is Finland with 33.6%.

At the bottom of the league is Malta, achieving a measly 0.3% (strange when you think it is suited to solar power and has limited fossil fuel resources).  Next up is Luxembourg and then the UK with just 3.3%.  Pathetic for a country supposedly already a world leader in wind power.  Could that claim be no more than hot air?

Germany, the most advanced country in the world for solar PV installations moved up from 9.3% in 2009 to 10.7% in 2010, clearly demonstrating the rate of change that feed-in tariff inspired PV investment can bring.

With such an ambition - to be the greenest - and such a challenge - to rise up the league table - and such a commitment to reducing the nation's carbon footprint, isn't it strange that the Energy Minister Greg Barker strangles the one renewables sector which is proving to be the way to achieve all these targets?  Photovoltaic (PV) panels have sprouted on rooftops all over the country since the Feed-in Tariff scheme (FITS) was introduced in April 2010.  But now Greg Barker says the incentive has to be cut to less than half what it was and threatens to reduce it further.  He's now saying we are over budget on the FITS for the current year, yet until a few months ago there was no budget.  He just makes it up as he goes along.

Solar panels are purchased by private individuals, putting savings back into the economy, paying tax on their purchase, providing business for installers and jobs for their employees.  But Greg Barker says the nation can't afford it and it has to be cut back.

Am I missing something?