Before his official appointment, the trade association for the solar industry, Solar Energy UK, said it looked forward to working with Burnham to “pursue our joint aim of cutting energy bills”. Related:Britain’s new energy secretary should back businesses that want to power themselvesSimon Francis, coordinator of campaign group the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, called the VAT cut “a positive statement of intent.” This has been the constant line of Ed Miliband during his time as energy secretary, a post which he has now ceded. Miliband’s legacyIn his role as energy secretary, Miliband was fast to act. He removed the de facto ban on onshore wind and approved major solar projects within weeks of taking office.