Page 2 - aruba-today-20220329

A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 29 March 2022
Continued from Front electricity within 15 years —
The Commerce Depart- a tenfold increase over cur-
ment decision "signals that rent solar output.
the Biden administration's Abigail Ross Hopper, presi-
talk of supporting solar en- dent and CEO of the Solar
ergy is empty rhetoric,'' said Energy Industries Associa-
Heather Zichal, CEO of the tion, which represents solar
American Clean Power As- installers, called the Com-
sociation, a clean-energy merce investigation a "mis-
group. step" that could have a
Zichal, who was White devastating impact on the
House energy adviser under U.S. solar market and re-
President Barack Obama, sult in tens of thousands of
called on Biden to reverse layoffs. The decision could
the decision immediately. result in retroactive tariffs
"America's solar workers of up to 240%, a possibility
and the clean energy com- Hopper said would have
munity are watching and an immediate and "chilling
will remember,'' she said, effect on the solar industry.''
calling implications of the Additional tariffs could
investigation "apocalyptic'' cause the loss of 70,000
for the industry. American jobs, including
"Overnight, the Commerce U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo speaks during an address at Brown University, March 11,000 manufacturing jobs,
Department ....drove a 15, 2022, in Providence, R.I. she said, and could result
stake through the heart of Associated Press in a dramatic drop in solar
planned solar projects and installations and a corre-
choked off up to 80% of the "For years, Chinese solar some panels used in large- key input for their manu- sponding increase in plan-
solar panel supply to the producers have refused to scale utility projects. facturing process," a senior et-warming greenhouse
U.S,'' she said, adding that fairly price their products in Biden's Feb. 4 announce- administration official said gas emissions from fossil fu-
Biden "must fix this now.'' the U.S. and have gone to ment continued many last month. els such as coal and natu-
The Commerce Depart- significant lengths to con- Trump-era tariffs, but he ex- Biden faced a choice ral gas.
ment investigation follows tinue undercutting Ameri- empted so-called bifacial among competing constit- "Solar prices are increasing,
a complaint by Auxin Solar, can manufacturers and solar panels that can gen- uencies on solar power, a federal climate legislation
a small California-based workers by establishing ... erate electricity on both key part of his climate and is stalled and trade restric-
manufacturer that said operations in countries not sides and are now used in clean-energy agenda. La- tions are now compound-
solar panels assembled in covered by those duties,'' many large solar projects. bor unions support import ing,'' Hopper said. "Com-
four Southeast Asian na- Rashid said. "Fair trade and The technology was still restrictions to protect do- merce should quickly end
tions — Cambodia, Malay- enforcement of our trade emerging when the tar- mestic jobs, while the solar this investigation to miti-
sia, Thailand and Vietnam laws are essential to re- iffs were first imposed by industry relies in large part gate the harm it will cause
— are circumventing rules building the American solar Trump. on cheap panels import- for American workers and
intended to block imports supply chain and making Biden also doubled an im- ed from China and other our nation's efforts to tackle
of solar cells and panels solar (panels) in America port quota on solar cells — countries, including Viet- climate change."
from China. again." the main components of nam, Malaysia, Thailand Trump approved tariffs
Auxin Solar CEO Mamun The Commerce Depart- panels that go on rooftops and Singapore. on imported solar-energy
Rashid said he was grate- ment action comes weeks and utility sites — to 5 giga- Biden has set a goal to cut components in 2018, say-
ful that Commerce officials after Biden extended tariffs watts, allowing a greater planet-warming green- ing his administration would
recognized the need to in- imposed by former Presi- number of imported cells house gas emissions by at always defend American
vestigate what he called dent Donald Trump on most used by domestic manu- least 50% below 2005 levels workers and businesses
"pervasive backdoor solar panels imported from facturers. The U.S. does not by 2030, and solar power is from unfair competition.
dumping" of solar panels China and other countries. currently produce solar a key part of that agenda. The tariffs were initially set
by China, which he said In a nod to his efforts to cells, and the White House A report last year by the En- at 30% and later cut to 18%
"continues to injure Ameri- combat climate change wanted to make sure do- ergy Department says solar and then 15%. They were
can solar producers" such and boost clean energy, mestic suppliers "do not has the potential to supply set to expire without action
as his company and others. Biden excluded tariffs on have to pay a tariff on a up to 40% of the nation's by Biden.q

Judge: Trump likely committed crimes

related to election

WASHINGTON (AP) — A marked a major legal win President Bill Clinton, wrote
federal judge on Monday for the House panel as it in the ruling submitted in
asserted it is "more likely looks to correspondence the federal Central District
than not" that former Presi- from Eastman, the lawyer of California. Eastman was
dent Donald Trump com- who was consulting with trying to withhold docu-
mitted crimes in his attempt Trump as he attempted to ments from the committee
to stop the certification of overturn the presidential on the basis of an attorney-
the 2020 election, ruling to election. client privilege claim be-
order the release of more "Based on the evidence, tween him and the former
than 100 emails from Trump the Court finds it more like- president. The commit-
adviser John Eastman to ly than not that President tee responded earlier this
the committee investigat- Trump corruptly attempted month, arguing that there is
ing the insurrection at the to obstruct the Joint Ses- a legal exception allowing
President Donald Trump arrives at the White House in Washing- U.S. Capitol. sion of Congress on Janu- the disclosure of communi-
ton, on Dec. 31, 2020.
Associated Press The ruling by U.S. District ary 6, 2021," Carter, who cations regarding ongoing
Court Judge David Carter was nominated by former or future crimes.q