Today, President Biden announced a two year pause on tariffs for certain solar cells and will invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) to boost clean energy manufacturing. In the announcement, the President authorized the Department of Energy to use the DPA to expand American manufacturing of clean energy technologies, including heat pumps and solar panels, which are critical to tackling the climate crisis.

In response, Martin Hayden, Vice President of Policy and Legislation at Earthjustice, released the following statement:

“President Biden’s action will restore certainty to the solar market and speed our transition to clean energy. We applaud the President’s inclusion of heat pumps in the use of the Defense Production Act as a significant leap forward to supply American homes with a cleaner, more affordable source of heating and cooling.

Our clean energy transition can’t wait. Investments like those in the DPA are critical to spurring our transition to 100% clean energy, lowering energy costs for American families, and reducing ongoing harm to communities overburdened by fossil fuel pollution.

President Biden’s use of emergency powers today, combined with the inclusion of strong labor conditions, will protect American jobs and help secure our shift away from fossil fuels for years ahead.”

Last month, Earthjustice joined Evergreen Action, the League of Conservation Voters, Rewiring America, RMI, and the Sierra Club in sending a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo calling on her to act quickly to resolve the Auxin Solar tariffs inquiry. Earthjustice also supports legislation that would complement President Biden’s actions today in Congress by expanding heat pump manufacturing and lowering upfront costs for American families, including the HEATR Act and the ICEE HOT Act.