Congressmen Krishnamoorthi And Peters Welcome President Biden’s Actions To Support The American Solar Industry Through Delaying New Tariffs, Increasing Investment In Domestic Manufacturing, And Invoking The Defense Production Act

SCHAUMBURG, IL – Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi and Scott Peters, who led a letter of 85 Members of Congress to President Biden expressing concern about the severe economic and environmental impacts of the Department of Commerce's anti-circumvention inquiry into crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) cells and panels imported from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, responded today to the news that President Biden will declare a 24-month tariff exemption on solar panels from the four nations while also invoking the Defense Production Act to incentivize American manufacturing of solar panels and other clean energy technologies.

"I'm glad to see President Biden take these major steps to save solar jobs, boost clean energy generation, and spur American solar manufacturing," said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. "By delaying the effective date of any new tariffs by 24 months, President Biden will give the U.S. solar industry time to adjust, enabling the continued growth of the industry and the rapid expansion of the clean energy generation while also providing the time and incentives to build out domestic solar manufacturing capacity. There is no question that we need to reduce our dependence on foreign imports, especially when it comes to our energy security, but it will take time to shift supply chains back to this country, and we cannot afford to hit pause on the clean energy transition. With the President's delay on any new anti-dumping and countervailing duties, we can walk and chew gum at the same time—accelerating the clean energy transition, meeting our Paris Agreement climate goals, and bringing the solar manufacturing supply chain back to America."

"Today, President Biden responded to the committed advocacy of federal and state lawmakers, industry representatives, and environmental and labor groups," said Congressman Scott Peters. "The Administration's actions will help ensure the U.S. solar industry can thrive, help us reach our climate goals, and create good-paying energy jobs. I thank those who helped sound the alarm since earlier this year and President Biden for recognizing there was too much as stake to not act."