Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act of 2021

To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program to provide grants and loans to support and expand the domestic solar component manufacturing supply chain, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act of 2021 2. Solar component manufacturing supply chain assistance (a) Findings The Congress finds that it is in the interest of the United States— (1) to have a viable solar component manufacturing supply chain; and (2) to reduce the reliance of United States manufacturers on solar components made in China. (b) Establishment Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and carry out a program to award grants and loans to eligible entities to carry out projects in the United States for— (1) the construction of new facilities that manufacture solar components; and (2) retooling, retrofitting, or expanding existing facilities that manufacture solar components. (c) Prioritization In awarding grants and loans under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects— (1) that are strategically located near manufacturers in the solar component manufacturing supply chain to create a geographic concentration of manufacturers in the solar component manufacturing supply chain; (2) that have the greatest potential to reduce the reliance of United States manufacturers on solar components made in China; and (3) that— (A) provide the greatest potential for both direct and indirect domestic job creation; (B) result in economic development or economic diversification in economically distressed regions or localities; or (C) will create the greatest number of jobs for low-income communities, dislocated workers, and workers from groups that are underrepresented in the manufacturing industry. (d) Advanced solar technology The Secretary may issue a written finding on whether any advanced solar technology has significant potential to reduce the reliance of United States manufacturers on traditional solar components made in China. (e) Prohibition In carrying out the program, the Secretary may not award grants or loans for projects that will source solar components from, or supply their solar components to, facilities that use forced labor. (f) Application To be eligible to receive a grant or loan under the program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (g) Loan conditions A loan made under the program shall— (1) not exceed an amount that is equal to 50 percent of the cost of the applicable project; (2) bear interest at a rate that does not exceed a level that the Secretary determines appropriate, taking into account the prevailing rate of interest in the private sector for similar loans and risks; and (3) be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary determines appropriate. (h) Cost sharing for grants Section 988(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 16352(c) (i) Prevailing wages Any laborer or mechanic employed by any contractor or subcontractor in the performance of work funded directly, or assisted in whole or in part , chapter 31 Davis-Bacon Act (j) Labor organization (1) In general Notwithstanding the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 151 et seq. (2) Neutrality requirement An employer shall remain neutral with respect to the exercise of employees and labor organizations of the right to organize and bargain under the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 151 et seq. (3) Commencement of collective bargaining Not later than 10 days after receiving a written request for collective bargaining from a labor organization that has been newly recognized or certified as a representative under section 9(a) of the National Labor Relations Act ( 29 U.S.C. 159(a) (4) Mediation and conciliation for failure to reach a collective bargaining agreement (A) In general If the parties have failed to reach an agreement before the date that is 90 days after the date on which bargaining is commenced under paragraph (3), or any later date agreed upon by both parties, either party may notify the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service of the existence of a dispute and request mediation. (B) Federal mediation and conciliation service Whenever a request is received under subparagraph (A), the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service shall promptly communicate with the parties and use best efforts, by mediation and conciliation, to bring them to agreement. (5) Tripartite arbitration panel (A) In general If the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is not able to bring the parties to agreement by mediation or conciliation before the date that is 30 days after the date on which such mediation or conciliation is commenced, or any later date agreed upon by both parties, the Service shall refer the dispute to a tripartite arbitration panel established in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Service, with one member selected by the labor organization, one member selected by the employer, and one neutral member mutually agreed to by the parties. (B) Dispute settlement A majority of the tripartite arbitration panel shall render a decision settling the dispute and such decision shall be binding upon the parties for a period of two years, unless amended during such period by written consent of the parties. Such decision shall be based on— (i) the employer's financial status and prospects; (ii) the size and type of the employer's operations and business; (iii) the employees' cost of living; (iv) the employees' ability to sustain themselves, their families, and their dependents on the wages and benefits they earn from the employer; and (v) the wages and benefits that other employers in the same business provide their employees. (k) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $9,500,000,000, to be made available for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. (l) Definitions In this Act: (1) Advanced solar technology The term advanced solar technology (2) Direct current optimizer The term direct current optimizer (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (4) Forced labor The term forced labor Tariff Act of 1930 19 U.S.C. 1307 (5) Integrated module The term integrated module (A) suitable to generate electricity when exposed to sunlight; and (B) ready for installation without additional manufacturing processes. (6) Inverter The term inverter (7) Labor organization The term labor organization 29 U.S.C. 152 (8) Parties The term parties 29 U.S.C. 159(a) (9) Photovoltaic cell The term photovoltaic cell (10) Photovoltaic wafer The term photovoltaic wafer (A) either— (i) directly from molten solar grade polysilicon; or (ii) through formation of an ingot from molten polysilicon and subsequent slicing; and (B) which comprises the substrate of a photovoltaic cell. (11) Program The term program (12) Racking The term racking (13) Secretary The term Secretary (14) Solar component The term solar component (15) Solar grade polysilicon The term solar grade polysilicon (A) suitable for use in photovoltaic manufacturing; and (B) purified to a minimum purity of 99.999999 percent silicon by mass. (16) Solar module The term solar module (A) suitable to generate electricity when exposed to sunlight; and (B) ready for installation without an additional manufacturing process. (17) Tracker The term tracker (A) a structural steel support on which solar modules are supported; and (B) the mechanism by which that support is oriented to varying angles with respect to the sun's position. (18) Traditional solar component The term traditional solar component

Summary: Reclaiming the Solar Supply Chain Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a program to award grants and loans to support a solar component manufacturing supply chain. Under the program, grants and loans must be used for (1) the construction of new facilities that manufacture solar components; and (2) retooling, retrofitting, or expanding existing facilities that manufacture solar components.