Congressman Kildee, Colleagues Introduce Legislation in House to Create Solar Manufacturing Jobs in America
Bill Would Boost Domestic Solar Panel Manufacturing, Reduce Reliance on China
WASHINGTON—Congressman Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today introduced the Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act to help bring solar panel manufacturing back to America, create good-paying jobs and free the U.S. from dependence on foreign solar panel manufacturers like China.
Kildee's legislation in the House was also introduced by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in the U.S. Senate. Reps. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Brian Higgins (NY-26), Tim Ryan (OH-13), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Suzan DelBene (WA-12) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) are also original cosponsors of the legislation in the U.S. House.
The Solar Energy Manufacturing for America Act (SEMA) would provide tax credits for American manufacturers at every stage of the solar manufacturing supply chain, from polysilicon production to solar cells to fully assembled solar modules. The bill would create tens of thousands of American solar jobs, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Currently, China dominates the solar supply chain because of unfair trade practices like using forced and slave labor by Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
"American workers can compete with anyone if they are given a level playing field," said Congressman Kildee. "Unfortunately, the Chinese-dominated solar panel industry is far from fair for American workers and manufacturers. Our legislation will help create tax incentives to boost U.S. manufacturing so we can create good-paying American jobs. I am proud to partner with Senator Ossoff and my House colleagues to introduce this important legislation and invest in American manufacturing."
"We have a generational obligation, a historic obligation to address climate change, to transition from fossil fuel combustion to clean and renewable energy. Demand for solar energy is skyrocketing, and we need to be building this technology, manufacturing this equipment here in the United States, reduce our reliance on imports from China, and meet the moment," said Sen. Ossoff.
"As America makes a once-in-a-generation investment in clean energy, we must guarantee that we build clean jobs here at home. We cannot continue to count on foreign competitors like China to dominate this growing industry. I'm proud to be a part of this effort led by Congressman Kildee to bring the solar supply chain back to the U.S.," said Congressman Schneider.
The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Audobon, Solar Energy Industry Association, Hemlock Semiconductor, REC Silicon, CubicPV, Swift Solar Leading Edge Equipment Technologies, Caelux Corporation, Ultra Low Carbon Solar Allliance, Mission Solar, Q CELLS and Yaskawa Solectria Solar.
Congressman Kildee has repeatedly called out China's unfair trade policies in the polysilicon industry, hurting workers across America, including in Michigan. Recently, Congressman Kildee successfully urged the Biden administration to have U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stop products made with forced labor from entering the U.S., resulting in the confiscation of silica-based products made by forced labor in Xinjiang. Thanks to Congressman Kildee's efforts, Hemlock Semiconductor, a mid-Michigan company that makes polysilicon used in computer chips and solar cells, stands ready to create hundreds of jobs in mid-Michigan if SEMA were to pass.