Fractured U.S. solar sector argues at tariff hearing

Shunfeng International Clean Energy

15/08/2017 23:13

By Nichola Groom 
    Aug 15 (Reuters) - A bitterly divided U.S. solar power 
industry descended on Washington on Tuesday to testify before a 
government panel that has been asked to impose steep tariffs on 
imported solar panels. 
    The trade case, brought by panel maker Suniva, has created a 
rift between the sector's struggling U.S. manufacturers and the 
much bigger domestic industry that installs and develops solar 
projects. 
    Suniva filed a petition seeking the tariffs with the 
International Trade Commission in April, nine days after the 
company sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Suniva, which 
has been majority owned by Hong Kong-based Shunfeng 
International Clean Energy  1165.HK  since 2015, makes panels in 
Georgia and Michigan.  
    The company contends that a glut of panels manufactured 
abroad has depressed prices and made it difficult for American 
producers to compete. The petition has drawn support from an 
Oregon-based subsidiary of Germany's SolarWorld AG  SWVKk.DE  
    Much of the industry, including the powerful Solar Energy 
Industries Association trade group, has said tariffs on overseas 
panels would drive up the price of solar power just as it has 
become competitive with electricity generated by fossil fuels 
such as natural gas and coal. 
    SEIA organized 200 solar workers to attend the hearing, 
wearing bright yellow shirts and pins that read "Save America's 
Solar Jobs No New Solar Tariffs." 
    The hearing was part of the ITC's process to determine 
whether imports have indeed harmed domestic producers. If it 
finds serious injury by a Sept. 22 deadline, the commission by 
Nov. 13 will recommend remedies to President Donald Trump. He 
does not have to take the commission's recommendation.  
    At the hearing, SolarWorld Americas Chief Executive Juergen 
Stein testified that an oversupply of cheap Chinese-made panels 
has prevented U.S. manufacturers from profiting from the boom in 
solar energy over the last five years, noting that his company 
laid off 360 workers last month. 
    "These job losses should not be happening in an industry 
where demand is so strong," Stein said. 
    A number of businesses and government officials testified in 
opposition to the trade case. SunPower Corp  SPWR.O  Chief 
Executive Tom Werner said that solar power, despite robust 
government support during its rapid growth, was now "on a glide 
path to being a fully self-sustaining industry." 
 
 (Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by David Gregorio) 
 ((nichola.groom@thomsonreuters.com;)) 
 
Keywords: USA TRADE/SOLAR