A bill recently introduced in the state Senate would prohibit the purchase of solar panels and related components manufactured or assembled outside the United States using state taxpayer dollars or tax credits.
The Solar Environmental Justice Act would require the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to develop standards and guidelines prohibiting the purchase of solar panels or components manufactured or assembled by foreign governments.
DCED also would be required to conduct an independent study of the global supply chain and workforce involved in solar panel production and the domestic market of solar panel production.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would be required to develop a plan for the safe recycling of solar panels and components that are no longer usable.
In cooperation with the Department of General Services, DEP would be required to certify that no state contracts for the purchase of electricity or solar energy credits are for solar panels or components manufactured and assembled outside the United States.
Finally, the act would require the Pennsylvania Auditor General to submit a report to the state legislature on the number of solar panels procured by state departments and agencies.
State Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee chairman, introduced the bill.