President Joe Biden Saves USA's Solar Energy Economy With Solar Tariff Veto - CleanTechnica

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Message to the House of Representatives — President’s Veto of H.J. Res. 39

TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

“I am returning herewith without my approval H.J. Res. 39, a resolution that would disapprove the Department of Commerce’s rule titled ‘Procedures Covering Suspension of Liquidation, Duties and Estimated Duties in Accord With Presidential Proclamation 10414.’

“For too long, because of unfair trade practices and underinvestment in domestic manufacturing, the United States has been reliant on China for solar energy products. From day one, my Administration has bet on America to create a strong solar supply chain. We have worked to create good-paying jobs and build manufacturing facilities in the United States for solar energy and other important global industries — and our plan is working.

“Thanks to my Investing in America agenda, 51 new and expanded solar equipment manufacturing plants have been announced since I took office. Since the passage of Public Law 117-169, commonly referred to as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, last August, private companies have announced commitments to build enough solar panel manufacturing capacity to power nearly six million homes.

“America is now on track to increase domestic solar panel manufacturing capacity eight-fold by the end of my first term. But that production will not come online overnight. The Department of Commerce’s rule supports American businesses and workers in the solar industry and helps provide sufficient, clean, and reliable electricity to American families, while continuing to hold our trading partners accountable.

“The rule implements a temporary, 24-month bridge to make sure that when these new factories are operational, we have a thriving solar installation industry ready to deploy American-made solar products to homes, businesses, and communities across the Nation. Given the progress we are making on American solar, I do not intend to extend the tariff suspension at the conclusion of the 2-year period in June 2024.

“Passage of this resolution bets against American innovation. It would undermine these efforts and create deep uncertainty for American businesses and workers in the solar industry.

“Therefore, I am vetoing this resolution.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 16, 2023.

Related from SEIA:

WASHINGTON D.C. — Following is a statement by Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on President Biden’s veto of legislation to repeal the administration’s two-year solar tariff moratorium:

“President Biden’s veto has helped preserve our nation’s clean energy progress and prevented a bill from becoming law that would have eliminated 30,000 American jobs, including 4,000 solar manufacturing jobs. This action is a reaffirmation of the administration’s commitment to business certainty in the clean energy sector, and a signal to companies to continue creating jobs, building domestic manufacturing capacity and investing in American communities.

“The Commerce Department’s solar tariff case effectively shut down the solar industry last spring, and the short-term tariff pause was strategically implemented to both allow project development to continue and create a bridge to a domestic manufacturing future. This strategy could not have come at a better time as the U.S. is experiencing an avalanche of solar manufacturing investment across the country thanks to the historic Inflation Reduction Act.

“All sides of this debate can agree that we need to deploy American energy and manufacture those components and technologies in America. Every metric shows that the Biden administration’s policies are working to achieve both goals, and we thank the President for taking this action and protecting the livelihoods of 255,000 solar and storage workers nationwide.”

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