Republicans introduce bill to ban solar panel manufacturing in China as Democrats push for green infrastructure

Senate Republicans introduced a bill on Tuesday, calling for a ban on all solar panels made in China, as President Biden prepares to introduce a $ 3 trillion infrastructure plan that is expected to incorporate policies green.

While the heavy package is likely to be a foundational program of the Biden administration, the White House has said it will seek Republican support.

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But Republicans submitted proposals even before the president presented his plan, trying to ensure that federal funds cannot be used to buy solar panels or related equipment from the world’s largest producer – China.

“Reports show that many solar companies depend on materials and labor from Communist China’s Xinjiang Province, known for forced labor and terrible abuse by Uyghurs,” Senator Rick Scott said Tuesday, from R-Fla., In a statement.

Seven of the world’s 10 largest producers of solar panels are in China, reported EnergySage, a US-based energy company.

Scott was joined by GOP Senators Marco Rubio, Marsha Blackburn, John Kennedy, Tom Cotton, Shelley Moore Capito, Josh Hawley and John Barrasso in proposing legislation banning Chinese imports of solar panels, raising concerns about violations of human rights reported in Xinjiang.

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“The Chinese province of Xinjiang is a major producer of solar-grade polysilicon in the world,” Caputo said in a statement before calling for an investigation into forced labor in the manufacture of solar panels.

“As the demand for clean energy initiatives increases, the federal government cannot support the entities that benefit from these atrocities, especially as many have lost their jobs across the country as a result of these new energy initiatives,” she added.

The White House has said the president’s “Build Back Better” plan will not be considered an emergency bill, meaning Biden’s legislation on manufacturing, climate change and infrastructure investments will require GOP support to go through Congress.

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“We certainly expect to have a discussion with members of Congress as we move forward on what areas they agree on, what they don’t agree on, what they would like to see. more importance or not, “White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday.

The GOP senator group also called on the Office of Management and Budget to track solar panel production in the United States to measure supply chains and the market as countries around the world rush to invest. in the development of solar panels.