Protecting American Solar Jobs and Lowering Costs Act
Bill: S.3680 | Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky (D-NV)
Policy area: Foreign Trade and International Finance

Summary:
Protecting American Solar Jobs and Lowering Costs Act
This bill repeals (1) the tariff-rate quota on imports of certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic (CSPV) cells; and (2) the increase in duties on imports of certain CSPV cells and other CSPV products, including modules.
Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Energy to carry out a program to support and incentivize manufacturing of solar energy components in the United States.

To amend subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
 of the United States to repeal increases in duties and a tariff-rate 
quota on certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and to require 
the Secretary of Energy to establish and carry out a program to support 
and incentivize manufacturing of solar energy components in the United 
                    States, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting American Solar Jobs and 
Lowering Costs Act''.

SEC. 2. REPEAL OF INCREASES IN DUTY AND A TARIFF-RATE QUOTA ON CERTAIN 
              CRYSTALLINE SILICON PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to the National Solar Jobs Census, the solar 
        workforce increased by 167 percent between 2010 and 2020, 
        adding approximately 156,000 jobs.
            (2) Nearly 90 percent of solar jobs in the United States 
        are in the installation, operation and maintenance, sales, 
        distribution, and project development sectors, all of which 
        heavily depend on the availability of affordable solar panels.
            (3) In 2020, solar accounted for 43 percent of all new 
        electricity-generating capacity in the United States, 
        representing solar's largest ever share of new generating 
        capacity and ranking first among all technologies for the 
        second year in a row.
            (4) According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, 
        the United States solar industry has lost almost 13,000 jobs 
        since duties were imposed under chapter 1 of title II of the 
        Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.) with respect to 
        solar cells and modules in 2018, in addition to almost 20,000 
        projected new solar jobs that were not realized as a result of 
        those duties.
    (b) Repeal.--Subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States is amended--
            (1) by striking U.S. Note 18; and
            (2) by striking--
                    (A) subheadings 9903.45.21 and 9903.45.22, and the 
                superior text to such subheadings; and
                    (B) subheading 9903.45.25.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect 
to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or 
after that date.

SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR DOMESTIC SOLAR MANUFACTURING.

    (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, the 
Secretary of Energy shall establish and carry out a program to support 
and incentivize manufacturing of solar energy components in the United 
States.
    (b) Emphasis.--The program required under subsection (a) may 
emphasize the following:
            (1) Research and development to expand and reduce the cost 
        of manufacturing polysilicon, solar panels, encapsulants, 
        backsheets, and inverters in the United States.
            (2) Development of new manufacturing capabilities for solar 
        products not currently manufactured in the United States, 
        including ingots, wafers, or cells.
            (3) Developing and deploying educational and skills 
        training curricula needed to support the solar industry and 
        ensure the United States can build and maintain a trusted and 
        predictable talent pipeline for the manufacturing of solar 
        products in the United States.
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