Federal Inquiry Cast A Shadow On Solar Power Growth. Now, Biden's Granted A Reprieve.

The Commerce Department is investigating whether China is skirting U.S. tariffs by routing solar panel parts through southeast Asian manufacturers — the biggest U.S. solar panel suppliers.

That scared U.S. solar panel installers, who were worried the Commerce Department would impose retroactive fees on projects built during the investigation. Forecasts for new solar energy fell by almost half.

On Monday, President Biden intervened by granting a two-year hiatus on the tariffs and invoking the Defense Production Act to spur domestic manufacturing of climate-friendly technologies including solar components.

This episode: White House correspondent Asma Khalid, White House correspondent Scott Detrow, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

Support the show and unlock sponsor-free listening with a subscription to The NPR Politics Podcast Plus. Learn more at plus.npr.org/politics

Connect:
Email the show at [email protected]
Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group.
Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.
Find and support your local public radio station.