The Members Requested That The Commerce Department Accelerate Inquiry, Take Into Account Economic And Environment Ramifications Of Decision

FREMONT, CA: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Representatives Scott Peters, Kathy Castor, Sean Casten, Deborah Ross, Donald Beyer Jr, Mike Levin, Susie Lee, Emanuel Cleaver II, and Jared Huffman led 75 of their colleagues in a letter to President Biden. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the American Clean Power Association, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), and Evergreen Action all signed the letter, which echoes similar letters sent by prominent environmental and labor groups such as the UBC, IUOE, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, and Evergreen Action.

The members stated that Anti-dumping/Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD) as high as 250 percent could be assessed retroactively to all CSPV cells and panels imported from the countries in question since the commencement of the inquiry and potentially even earlier. This prospect has virtually halted all CSPV cell and panel imports from these countries, which account for over 80 percent of CSPV panel imports and 54 percent of panels used to meet domestic demand. After just over a month, the investigation has already had a disastrous impact on the American solar business. According to a recent survey of over 700 solar enterprises, 83 percent of respondents reported delays or cancellations from their CSPV providers. According to a project-level study, the commerce investigation has caused more than 50 gigawatts of new solar projects to be canceled or postponed. These cancellations and delays could cost the industry over 100,000 jobs and result in an additional 364 million metric tons of CO2 emissions between now and 2035, equivalent to 97 coal-fired power plants.

On behalf of the Members’ letter, General Secretary-Treasurer of The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America remarked that the UBC has thousands of highly skilled carpenters and millwrights eager to go back to work helping to build the nation's clean energy solar fields. They are also of the opinion that the Commerce Department should move quickly.