Advocates Praise President Biden’s Executive Action on Solar Production
Announced actions will jump-start solar projects, restore growth to industry
Today, the Biden Administration announced executive action to resume stalled solar projects, restore certainty to the country’s solar industry, and bolster domestic manufacturing of clean energy technologies.
This spring, the solar industry was shaken when the United States Department of Commerce opened an inquiry into allegations that large manufacturers are circumventing tariffs on solar materials produced in China. Legislators, solar companies, trade associations, and environmental groups expressed concern about the inquiry’s long-term implications for the solar industry — including the potential loss of over 100,000 jobs and an possible increase in carbon emissions by more than 364 million metric tons by 2035.
The actions announced today include invoking the Defense Production Act to accelerate domestic production of clean energy technology and the creation of a 24-month bridge for some solar imports while the Department of Commerce continues its inquiry.
“We commend the Biden Administration for recognizing the importance of a strong solar industry, in terms of both meeting our ambitious climate goals and advancing our clean energy economy,” says Odette Mucha, Federal Liaison at Vote Solar. “Today’s actions will restore much-needed certainty to the industry as well as in state-level utility resource planning processes.”
“We applaud President Biden’s actions today to spur our transition to 100% clean energy, restoring certainty to the solar market and using emergency powers to protect American jobs.” says Jake Kornack, Associate Legislative Representative at Earthjustice. “These actions will lower energy costs for American families and reduce the harm to communities overburdened by fossil fuel pollution, and we look forward to working with the administration to ensure environmental justice is a central component of clean energy deployment.”
“This laudable action by the President allows us to resume progress on Puerto Rico’s path to 100% renewables, a future fundamentally based in the limitless clean, local and affordable energy of our island sun,” says Javier Rúa-Jovet, Chief Policy Officer at Solar & Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico (SESA).
“Addressing the clean energy needs of frontline Latino communities in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico is a top priority for Hispanic Federation,” says Laura M. Esquivel, Vice President of Federal Policy and Advocacy at Hispanic Federation. “Today’s executive actions will relieve the hold on much needed solar investments in Puerto Rico and Latino communities across the country. We will continue to work with Congress and this Administration to center the voices and needs of communities negatively impacted by systemic racism to ensure that these investments redress past inequities, prioritize the needs of Latino families and communities, and result in a just, equitable, and clean energy transformation.”
“Solar power and solar jobs are key to advancing economic and environmental justice,” says Andie Wyatt, Policy Director and Legal Counsel at GRID Alternatives. “We are grateful that these executive actions will help maintain and grow momentum for an equitable clean energy future.”
“We thank the Biden Administration for taking executive action to help ensure we have a stable supply chain to accommodate the rapid energy transformation that must take place,” said Jeff Cramer, CEO of the Coalition for Community Solar Access. “This decision eliminates significant uncertainty and allows the community solar industry to focus on expanding access to solar and building a clean grid that is equitable and just to all it serves.”