House of Representatives joins growing opposition to investigate solar bypass – pv magazine USA

May 19, 2022Ryan Kennedy

The latest in a series of political and industry leaders urging the Commerce Department to quickly end its investigation into alleged violations against Chinese solar panel exporters, comes from the House of Representatives when 85 members signed a petition addressed to President Biden.

In a petition, the House of Representatives expressed “serious concern about the economic and environmental consequences” of the investigation, which could lead to tariffs on solar goods in the range of 50 to 250% or more. About 80% of U.S. supplies of crystalline silicon solar panels come from four Southeast Asian countries where the operations under investigation are located.

In 2017-2018, similar requests led to tariffs are issued to large solar energy suppliers exceeds 90%. Charges from Trina Solar were 92.5%, Risen Energy 100.79%, Canadian Solar 95.5%, Jinko Solar 95.5%.

This level of risk is unbearable, and it has already led to widespread cancellation and delay of projects. This year’s investigation essentially halted the construction of solar panels, and the Solar Energy Association lowered its forecast for the year’s deployment by 46%.

The petition states:

A recently published survey of more than 700 solar companies found that 83% of respondents experienced delays or cancellations from their CSPV providers. A project-level survey found that more than 50 gigawatts of new solar projects are currently canceled or postponed due to a Commerce request. The simulation suggests that these cancellations and delays could cost the industry more than 100,000 jobs and increase CO2 emissions by an additional 364 million tonnes of CO2 by 2035, equivalent to the emissions of 97 coal-fired power plants.

The petition went on to say that the signatories are strong supporters of the domestic solar sector, but this investigation will not benefit the industry outside of a few individual firms. It was noted that most jobs in solar production in the US are not related to the creation of modules, but to the manufacture of mounting, racks, trackers and other balance of system components, so the probe does little to revitalize existing US companies.

The petitioners suggested that instead, this investigation, which is unlikely to bring significant benefits to domestic production, the adoption of legislation such as the Solar Energy Act for America and the long-term extension of the tax credit on solar investment, will pave the way for supplies to the United States. chain.

The note concludes with a statement praising President Biden for setting targets for 100% clean energy by 2035 and zero emissions in the economy by 2050, but underscores the fact that ongoing investigations threaten to completely disrupt progress toward those goals.

“We therefore respectfully request that the Department of Commerce take steps to expedite the preliminary decision as soon as possible, and that this determination take into account the greater impact on American jobs and your administration’s ambitious climate goals as much as possible by law,” the letter concludes. .

The full document, signed by 85 deputies of the House, can be found here.