Announcement comes after Hickenlooper and Bennet urged administration to end threat of additional harmful solar tariffs and provide relief to U.S. solar companies
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet welcomed President Joe Biden’s announcement that the administration is waiving for two years the additional harmful tariffs on solar components posed by the Commerce Department’s investigation. The decision comes after Hickenlooper, Bennet, and their colleagues called for a swift end to the Commerce Department’s harmful investigation into solar energy components imported from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, which has been devastating the solar industry in Colorado and across the country. The administration also announced important measures to boost the domestic solar manufacturing industry, which will help strengthen U.S. energy independence.
“We must prioritize U.S. solar power to expand our clean energy economy,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s critical to reaching net-zero emissions. President Biden’s executive order will ensure our domestic solar industry can grow and create good jobs.”
“This is the moment when we should be doing everything we can to invest in America’s solar industry and accelerate deployment of clean energy,” said Bennet. “I’m pleased that President Biden has listened to our calls. This announcement is an important step in the right direction, and will help provide Colorado solar companies with the certainty they need to advance new projects, expand their businesses and grow their workforce, while helping us meet our climate goals.”
In May, Hickenlooper and Bennet joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in urging President Joe Biden to expedite and bring the investigation to a swift conclusion. In March, Hickenlooper and Bennet joined a bipartisan group of a dozen senators in urging Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to carefully assess the validity of the filed petition to investigate and expand solar tariffs.
The solar industry employs over 230,000 American workers, including nearly 7,000 Coloradans.
###