Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – Today, President Biden will announce a two year exemption on the collection of tariffs for solar panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam and invoke the Defense Production Act to further increase solar panels and other clean energy technologies. The announcement comes as the Commerce Department continues its solar panel investigation forced by a single small U.S. solar company.
In response, Sierra Club Deputy Legislative Director Matthew Bearzotti released the following statement:
“The Sierra Club applauds President Biden for taking the necessary action to support the solar industry, the 230,000 Americans who work in it, and our national climate goals. While this action will provide a measure of desperately needed certainty in the solar supply chain and allay some concerns, today’s efforts do not conclude the issue at hand.
“President Biden was right to take critical action to minimize the effects of the ongoing solar inquiry, which has already resulted in layoffs, stalled construction of new solar projects, and a delay in coal plant retirements. Now, Commerce Secretary Raimondo must prioritize concluding a fact-based inquiry at the earliest possible moment as the administration continues to usher in the clean energy economy.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.