Greenpeace activists arrested in protest at Spain’s ‘tax on sunlight’

FOUR Greenpeace activists have been arrested in Madrid after climbing up a building next to the Ministry of Industry to protest against a controversial ‘sun tax’ decree which could be approved this Friday.
Altogether eight protestors gathered outside the ministry with four climbing a neighbouring building to hang banners stating ‘Sun Tax NO’ and another four remaining outside the doors to the official building.
Those on ground level presented themselves at the ministry door with a solar panel bearing a red ribbon as a gift for Minister Jose Manuel Soria, which he refused to accept and had the gates closed. Police officers then arrived and arrested the four climbers.
This was the first act of protest Greenpeace has carried out in Spain since the Citizen Security Law, also known as the gag law, kicked in, meaning the protestors may well face punishment.
Greenpeace meanwhile stated that if the sun tax was approved, “consumers who produce their own energy and are also connected to mains supply will have to pay taxes on sunlight.”
Marina Bevacqua, Greenpeace Energy campaign leader, stressed that: “Self-provision is a key tool for energy efficiency, reducing contamination, generating employment and reducing Spain’s dependency on energy from abroad.”
Bevacqua claimed the proposed tax was established to meet the interests of the electricity giants and would stop more than seven million people in Spain using the resource to beat energy poverty.
Greenpeace has urged the Ministry of Industry to ditch the project and draw up legislation that “really favours development and takes into account the environmental, social and financial benefits of solar technology and allows a transition to renewable energy sources.”