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Washington, DC – Today, the United States Senate passed the reconciliation bill. Mike Carr, Executive Director of the Solar Energy Manufacturers for America (SEMA) Coalition, released the following statement:
“Today, the Senate selectively reversed course for just the technologies they apparently disfavor. As we have been telling Members of Congress for months, this bill will lead to a flood of Chinese imports, hurting U.S. manufacturing jobs and investments. As Congress knows, competing with Chinese companies means American companies are competing with the country of China and all the resources and power that entails. SEMA member companies have invested billions of dollars in state-of-the-art factories to take on that fight with the knowledge that the government has their back to level the playing field.
“The bill quickly terminates incentives to buy American-made solar, while China will continue to benefit from American taxpayer dollars for projects beginning construction by the end of the year. Anticipating the end of any incentive to buy American products, there will be significant stockpiling of Chinese panels, which will build out the majority of new U.S. energy additions in the coming years. Losing the force of the Domestic Content Bonus further pulls the rug out from under companies who stepped up to do what is right for American energy dominance and American competitiveness.
“It’s outrageous and self-destructive to have the government turn its back on the people taking real risks to restore American manufacturing. How are we going to expect any companies to trust that our federal policies won’t flip-flop in the future? Congress is undermining its own credibility. Our members have spent the past several months on the Hill talking to lawmakers about the implications of quickly terminating the Domestic Content Bonus and loosening restrictions on Chinese material assistance. It will kill jobs, create grid insecurity, and open the door for Chinese companies to control our energy grid.”
