Page 3 - aruba-today-20220607

A3
U.S. NEWS Tuesday 7 June 2022
Biden orders emergency steps to boost U.S. solar production

By WILL WEISSERT ing 200% forsolarproducts
Associated Press would not apply to the vast
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- majority ofimports. They
dent Joe Biden ordered instead typically apply to
emergency measures uncooperative companies
Monday to boost crucial that cannot differentiate
supplies to U.S. solar manu- themselves from China's
facturers and declared a government or Communist
two-year tariff exemption Party.
on solar panels from South- Still, any possible punish-
east Asia as he attempted ment might have jeopar-
to jumpstart progress to- dized one of Biden's top
ward his climate change- clean energy goals and
fighting goals. run counter to his adminis-
His invoking of the Defense tration's push for renewable
Production Act and his oth- energy such as wind and
er executive actions come solar power, advocates
amid complaints by indus- argue. "The president's an-
try groups that the solar nouncement will rejuve-
sector is being slowed by nate the construction and
supply chain problems due domestic manufacturing
to a Commerce Depart- of solar power by restor-
ment inquiry into possible ing predictability and busi-
trade violations involving Farmland is seen with solar panels from Cypress Creek Renewables, Oct. 28, 2021, in Thurmont, ness certainty that the De-
Chinese products. Word of Md. Associated Press partment of Commerce's
the White House's actions flawed inquiry has disrupt-
caused solar energy com- people." domestic solar power pro- emergency declaration ed," Heather Zichal, CEO of
panies to gain ground on "He is putting the full force duction — even as the ensures America's families the American Clean Power
Wall Street. of the federal government administration remains sup- have access to reliable Association and a former
The Commerce Depart- behind supporting Ameri- portive of U.S. trade laws and clean electricity while Obama administration of-
ment announced in March can clean energy produc- and the Commerce De- also ensuring we have the ficial, said in a statement
that it was scrutinizing im- ers," Jean-Pierre said. partment investigation. ability to hold our trading Monday. Abigail Ross Hop-
ports of solar panels from White House officials said Commerce Department partners accountable to per, president and CEO
Thailand, Vietnam, Malay- Biden's actions aim to in- Secretary Gina Raimondo their commitments," Rai- of the Solar Energy Indus-
sia and Cambodia, con- crease domestic produc- told a Senate panel in May mondo said in a statement. tries Association, cheered
cerned that products from tion of solar panel parts, that the solar inquiry is fol- Clean energy leaders have Biden's "thoughtful ap-
those countries are skirting building installation mate- lowing a process set by law long warned that the in- proach to addressing the
U.S. anti-dumping rules that rials, high-efficiency heat that doesn't allow consid- vestigation — which could current crisis of the para-
limit imports from China. pumps and other compo- eration of climate change, result in retroactive tariffs lyzed solar supply chain."
Asked at the White House if nents including cells used supply chains or other fac- of up to 240% — would se- "Today's actions protect
Biden's pause in tariffs was for clean-energy gener- tors. She said Monday that verely hinder the U.S. solar existing solar jobs, will lead
not a gift to China, press ated fuels. They called the she remains "committed to industry, leading to thou- to increased employment
secretary Karine Jean- tariff suspension affecting upholding our trade laws sands of layoffs and imper- in the solar industry and
Pierre said he was invok- imports from Thailand, Viet- and ensuring American iling up to 80% of planned foster a robust solar man-
ing the Defense Production nam, Malaysia and Cam- workers have a chance to solar projects around the ufacturing base here at
Act, "to make sure that he's bodia a bridge measure compete on a level play- country. The department home," Ross Hopper said in
delivering for the American while other efforts increase ing field." "The president's counters that rates exceed- a statement.q

New Orleans Starbucks store 1st in

Louisiana to vote union

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Em- comes about a week af- stores function best when
ployees at a Starbucks ter workers in Birmingham, Starbucks works directly
store in New Orleans voted Alabama, voted 27-to-1 with employees, which the
to form a union, becoming to become that state's first company calls "partners."
the first of the coffee giant's unionized Starbucks. In a statement Sunday,
locations in Louisiana to Barista Caitlyn Pierce and Starbucks said it was "lis-
unionize. others wanted to unionize tening and learning," and
Ballots were cast Friday because of regular shifts added, "We respect our
and Saturday 11-1 in favor where they were over- partner's right to organize."
of joining Workers United, worked and understaffed, The statement didn't say
which represents the union- the station reported. whether the company Pro-union pins sit on display, Dec. 9, 2021. Employees at a
ized Starbucks stores, WW- "I'm feeling amazing," would challenge the vote. Starbucks store in New Orleans are the first of the coffee giant's
locations in Louisiana to unionize, voting 11-1 in favor of joining
NO-FM reported. Two bal- Pierce said. "This is some- Billie Nyx, lead organizer of a union on Friday and Saturday, June 3-4, 2022.
lots were challenged, the thing we worked so hard the union campaign, was Associated Press
station said. for and it's just great to fi- fired in mid-May for closing
The New Orleans vote is the nally get here." the store early without per- in retaliation for union ad- those still working at the
latest in a series of wins for Starbucks has fought union- mission from higher man- vocacy. store to solidify specific
labor at Starbucks stores ization efforts, saying its agement. Nyx is contesting Nyx said they will meet with demands for the contract
across the nation, and 9,000 company-owned U.S. the dismissal, saying it was their lawyer and gather negotiations.q