Commerce inquiry imperils solar industry, advocates say
Source: Associated Press
Commerce inquiry imperils solar industry, advocates say
By MATTHEW DALY
March 28, 2022
WASHINGTON (AP) In a decision that could dramatically undercut President Joe Bidens ambitious climate goals, the Commerce Department said Monday it is investigating whether imports of solar panels from Southeast Asia are circumventing anti-dumping rules that limit imports from China.
Clean energy leaders said the investigation which could result in retroactive tariffs of up to 240% would severely hinder the U.S. solar industry, leading to thousands of layoffs and imperiling up to 80% of planned solar projects in the U.S. Such an outcome would jeopardize one of Bidens top clean energy goals and run counter to his administrations push for renewable energy such as wind and solar power.
The Commerce Department decision signals that the Biden administrations talk of supporting solar energy is empty rhetoric,″ said Heather Zichal, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, a clean-energy group.
Zichal, who was White House energy adviser under President Barack Obama, called on Biden to reverse the decision immediately. Americas solar workers and the clean energy community are watching and will remember,″ she said, calling implications of the investigation apocalyptic″ for the industry.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-science-business-environment-7ffde796e44ccca24d0e2eecd3abfef4