- Jul. 15th 2022 2:01 pm PT
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $56 million in funding to boost US solar manufacturing and recycling.
Of those funds, $10 million will come from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
That money should provide a much-needed boost to the US solar manufacturing industry as around 90% of US solar panels are currently made overseas.
The US solar industry has experienced difficulties due to supply chain problems, disruptions resulting from the US Department of Commerce investigation into whether Southeast Asian solar cell manufacturers are using parts made in China that would normally be subject to a tariff, and now Senator Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) opposition to expanding solar incentives.
At the beginning of June, Biden authorized the Defense Production Act to spur US solar manufacturing. He also announced a two-year suspension of tariffs on Southeast Asian solar panels, thus allowing the DOC investigation to continue yet avoiding the investigation bringing the US solar industry to a halt.
The $56 million in funding opportunities will be broken down into two general categories:
Garrett Nilsen, acting director for DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office, said [via Reuters]:
It’s necessary that we take the steps to ensure that we can be as self-sufficient as possible.
Not only for hitting decarbonization goals, but also just to make sure that we are as insulated as possible from any other global trade disruptions that might take place.
The Biden administration also approved the 125-mile (200 km) Ten West Link transmission line between Tonopah, Arizona, and Blythe, California. The line will support solar energy project development in the Southwest.
Read more: The real reason Joe Manchin is sabotaging the US clean energy plan
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Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor on Electrek and an editor on DroneDJ, 9to5Mac, and 9to5Google. She lives in White River Junction, Vermont. She has previously worked for Fast Company, the Guardian, News Deeply, Time, and others. Message Michelle on Twitter or at michelle@9to5mac.com. Check out her personal blog.
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