House Votes to Undo Solar Moratorium

May 1, 2023 by Dan McCue
House Votes to Undo Solar Moratorium
(Photo by Atimedia via Pixabay)

WASHINGTON — The House voted 221-202 on Friday to overturn President Joe Biden’s two-year moratorium on imposing new tariffs on solar panels and related equipment from four Southeast Asian countries suspected of illicitly working to allow Chinese companies to skirt import rules.

As was evident from the vote, there are both Republicans and Democrats who want tighter controls on Chinese imports of solar and other renewable energy-related technologies, but the issue is not strictly partisan. 

In the end, 12 Democrats joined the 209 Republicans who voted in favor of the Congressional Review Act resolution on Friday, while eight Republicans voted against it.

However, the position of the majority puts them at odds with those in the renewable energy sector, who argue such prohibitions — put in place at a time when the U.S. is still ramping up its manufacturing capability — will stymie the nation’s efforts to minimize the adverse impacts of climate change.

The White House has already said President Biden intends to veto the resolution if it reaches his desk, and the outcome of Friday’s vote suggests that veto will stand.

The president issued his moratorium last June at a time when the Commerce Department was investigating whether companies in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam were helping China circumvent existing tariffs by funneling solar cells and modules through their facilities.

In a preliminary report released in December, the Commerce Department said eight solar companies working in the four countries did in fact appear to be helping China get around U.S. tariffs by importing Chinese goods into their countries and doing minor processing on them before they are sent on to the United States. A final report is expected later this year. 

The Senate is expected to take up the resolution later this week or early next week.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue

A+
a-
  • House of Representatives
  • Joe Biden
  • moratorium
  • solar energy
  • solar power
  • solar tariffs
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Congress

    March 27, 2024
    by TWN Staff
    Rep. Cleaver New Co-Chair of House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., is the new Democratic co-chair of the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. He was invited to serve as co-chair by Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the co-chairs of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    New Dem Chair Kuster Announces Retirement Following 2024 Election

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition... Read More

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition in the House, revealed Wednesday that she will not seek reelection to Congress this year. In a lengthy statement released by her office, Kuster gives no... Read More

    March 25, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    CPAC Releases Ranking of Most Conservative Members of Congress

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of the House and Senate based on their conservative bona fides or lack thereof. To produce this year’s scorecard, the CPAC foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability analyzed... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    After a Decade on Capitol Hill, Brad Howard Steps Out on His Own

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.,... Read More

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and communications director of the Blue Dog Coalition, Brad Howard knew it was time for change. “It was time to move into the private sector,” he... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Greene Files Motion to Vacate Speaker’s Chair

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed... Read More

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed a motion to vacate the chair of the party’s speaker. But this time, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., says the motion is intended merely as a... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Gallagher to Leave Congress April 19

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on Friday by announcing he plans to leave April 19, several months before his current term is up. Gallagher’s impending departure will further shrink the razor-thin Republican... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top