Comments on: Dumping Solar: The Case for CASE, Solar Growth and China’s Subsidies

By: Akbweb2

Akbweb2 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

What about at times atrocious labor practices and conditions among Chinese manufacturers? Not to mention the serious, lasting environmental damage that continues to occur?
It’s nice to have you iPod and iPad, or your $1/watt solar panel, but perhaps more consideration should be given to labor and environment, not to mention basic, agreed upon principles of int’l trade…

By: Edward Kerr

Edward Kerr — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:33:00 +0000

Electric38
When you say that “Oil billionaires, coal and utilities must be laughing heartily over this” my radar went wild. I suspect that rather than simply yukking it up over their “good fortune” they are actually behind this BS. I mean who other might have influence over the WTO and their , so called, “trade agreements”? The problem of burning fossil fuels is a GLOBAL ONE and it the Chinese want to lower the cost of producing panels with subsidies then God Bless them. The more panels that are available for installation, regardless of where they are manufactured, will benefit humanity in general. We need to get these greedy shortsighted fossil fuel mongering bastards off of the back of the world and try to save this planet for our progeny.

And, if CASM really cared about humanity before self interest they would find a way to ‘compete’ by becoming more efficient rather than asking the ref to throw a flag and a 10 yard penalty.

By: Electric38

Electric38 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:40:00 +0000

China has indicated they will use the panels on the rooftops of their own citizens if the US imposes tariffs or trade restrictions (why let them sit and go to waste). Funny, if Wal Mart was an oil company, maybe we would keep all the Chinese product out of their stores too.
Instead, we’ll make it harder for the American consumer to own these units. Oil billionaires, coal and utilities must be laughing heartily over this. Keep these solar products out of the financial range of consumers -so we can continue the status quo monopolies.
In any event, go China! If you are forced to benefit from numerous benefits from the free energy of the sun because of Americas bought and paid for political system -so be it. Use the interest from American war bonds to finance clean energy on 100’s of millions of homes. Make the units large enough to support charging an electric vehicle. Free sunlight paid for by the interest on US loans would be the envy of any country. Raising the quality of life for your citizens will have more side benefits than are immediately evident.
Keep an eye on the design of many of the new manufacturing assemblies and factories. Extensive robotics working 24/7 utilizing solar assisted power will keep the product cost lower than at any time in history.

By: Kipsberg

Kipsberg — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:55:00 +0000

‘Are we seeing the irony of contradictory strategic priorities at work here ?’
On the one hand this administration and most in the legislature wish to promote domestic job creation, while on the other get off of the addiction to foreign oil coupled w/ reducing carbon based pollution via alternative energy, (solar of course).
In spite of WTO strictures -seemingly largely ignored by such as China, at least since the mid 1990’s- we here the President announce formation of a new department to investigate foreign gov’t subsidies: NOT by the WTO but by Eric Holder’s troops ?
Then, ‘what of retaliation?’ Does the U.S. avoid any subsidies in its’ export incentives ?

Paradoxically, there seem to be aspects of ‘Catch-22′ at work here !

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:43:00 +0000

The use of the Canada-US “agreement on lumber is a BAD example. It wasn’t so much a agreement as the US basically saying we’re going to ignore the determination that the duty imposed is wrong and if you want access to our markets you’ll do as we say. It was a dictated solution not a negotiated one!

By: JIM EDWARDS

JIM EDWARDS — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:58:00 +0000

What does it cost in time and materials to build a solar panel
that is 100 watts out put?? I have seen soar panels that are 100 watt on the market for $450.00–At 50% profit the panel would cost $250.00 to build,and thats bull shit.Its another case of industry sticking it to the public.I say YES for low cost panels So every home can be independent and off grid,then maybe we can give the oil bandits a kick in the butt.

jim edwards living on peanut butter without the jelly