A “race to the top” or a “race to the bottom”? China-US ties have reached a a pivotal point as China’s economy has rapidly grown to be one of the largest in the world. The US-China solar energy trade dispute highlights inherent tensions, which have profound implications in terms of climate change, as well for energy, food and national security .
Four founding members of the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) purchased more than $400 million in goods and services from other manufacturers and employers in 46 states in 2011, according to a CASM survey. The survey results highlight the ripple effects and positive impact a healthy US solar PV manufacturing sector can have on job creation, income growth and economic development, particularly in areas hard-hit by the exodus of manufacturers from US shores.
Demand was initially brisk for the high-end monocrystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) panels manufactured by Helios Solar Works at a new, highly automated 50-MW capacity factory on a brownfield industrial site Milwaukee’s city leaders designated for redevelopment and growth. That is until last summer, when founder Steven Ostrenga began noting “a deep dive in [solar panel] pricing coming out of China that we just couldn’t meet.”
As many as 60,000 American solar industry jobs would be lost over the next three years should a 100% tariff be imposed on Chinese silicon PV imports, according to the results of a Brattle Group study commissioned by CASE, the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy.
The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing’s (CASM) filing of complaints with the US ITC and Dept. of Commerce has generated a maelstrom of debate and public relations activity that’s divided the US solar power industry and rippled out far wider than the confines of the US’ emerging solar power industry, and justifiably so. Clean Technica interviewed the Wiley, Rein partner in charge of representing SolarWorld Industries America and CASM’s in its anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions.
China Development Bank is stepping up its international lending to leading Chinese solar power companies even as the industry is being rocked by a glut of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules and heightened uncertainty of government support in key markets. LDK and its US subsidiary SPI Solar announced CDB is providing them financing totaling $64 million to carry out solar PV project development in California and New Jersey.
China’s solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers aren’t waiting around for US decisions on China improperly subsidizing the industry and claims that Chinese manufacturers are dumping product in the US; they’re shifting investments overseas. China’s TFG Radiant Group announced it’s increasing its equity stake in Colorado flexible thin-film solar PV manufacturer Ascent Solar, while LDK Solar announced its increasing its stake and launching a public takeover offer for all the shares of German silicon solar PV producer Sunways AG.
