U.S. Slaps Duties on Chinese Solar Panels, but The Trade is War on Hold

 
The solar industry in the United States held their breath for a much-delayed review of the Commerce Department over alleged unfair trade practices of the Chinese solar panel makers. Some solar manufacturers, especially SolarWorld, complain manufacturers an American arm of a German, that the Chinese government is deeply subsidized domestic solar panel makers to allow them to underbid other producers.

Most of the solar industry, especially solar and financiers who directly benefit Panel pricers opinion, and argue that putting up trade barriers to imports from China would be the solar industry to his damage as a whole, costs jobs and dynamics in a time when solar energy rises rapidly throughout the world. mixed.

Commerce concluded that the Chinese government had illegal export subsidies made available and decided to propose to reduce customs duties on imported solar panels from China focus. Here is a representative of the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM), which included pro-tariff trade barriers, the SolarWorld group:

Today's announcement confirms what U.S. manufacturers have long known: Chinese manufacturers have received unfair and illegal subsidies. We are pleased with the Commerce Department are working hard to make these grants to help light, and we look forward to any unfair trade practices in the solar industry in China.

And here is Jigar Shah, president of the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE), unlike the tariffs:

Today's preliminary determination by the Department of Commerce imposing low tariffs on imported solar cells / modules in China, of course, have a limited negative impact on the U.S. solar industry and its 100,000 employees. It also shows that the Commerce Department was not involved in the massive subsidies the Chinese government, such as SolarWorld and CASM claim.

The United States and other countries have restrictions on Chinese exports of valuable rare earths, which are a key for both complained clean and high tech.
(More: U.S. solar manufacturer to terminate unfair competition Chinese)

Most of the solar industry hopes that trade barriers are kept low so that the plates to move easily around the world and to reduce the prices are. "The placement of restrictions on trade will not help us," Shawn Qu, CEO of Canadian Solar major manufacturers told me on Monday.

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4:25 PM | 0 comments

UK loses bid to overturn solar panels judgement

Thousands of households and businesses can now compete in a position to higher payments after the government does not overturn earlier ruling that cuts were illegal

The government lost its appeal on Wednesday against a decision of the judge that his cuts were illegally funding for solar power, suggesting thousands of homes and businesses now in a position to demand higher payments.

Three appeal court judges unanimously dismissed the appeal of Chris Huhne, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy and Climate Change (Decc), which he would take the case to the Supreme Court said.
The decision, the uncertainty that has seen the number of solar collector systems crash, since the 12th December was extended immediately condemned by opponents of the cuts. Green MEP Caroline Lucas said: "After we lost twice in the courts and were roundly humiliated in the chaotic handling of solar policy, it is absolutely unbelievable that Huhne is planning to appeal to the Supreme Court."

Daniel Green of HomeSun, one of the companies that the government took in court, said: "Almost everyone, except Decc have the potential and importance of the solar industry value - from the National Trust, the Church of England to the CBI and the British people. "

The government announced proposed cuts in solar feed-in tariff payments in October.
Promoting the development of renewable energies is an important part of the government's plans to meet with the British legally binding cuts in carbon emissions, although wind power far more support than solar power receives. Green activists say the solar industry and many thousands of jobs have been lost and that the government's actions undermine his claim to the profoundly "greenest ever" be, although some of them cut in the solar subsidy was necessary consent.
A Decc spokeswoman said: "We estimate the uncertainty is entirely in the solar industry, and hopefully the date of 3rd March to provide some security."

Decc legal fees have cost the taxpayer £ 58,000 so far, although this does not include the cost of their opponents, who said the appellate court must also pay Decc.

The appellate court refused to try Huhne, a hearing in the Supreme Court, but that does not prevent the Secretary of State, the right to the higher authority. Some activists have suggested that continued uncertainty will reduce the number of new installations, and thus reduce the number entitled to the higher feed-in tariff, if the government ultimately loses his case.

John Cridland, Director General of the CBI, said: "The judgment should be used to draw a line under this saga that saw the government achieved a spectacular own goal and the confidence in the renewable energy industry undermined draw."Gaynor Hartnell, chairman of the Renewable Energy Association, disagreed. December.
David Parsons, Chairman of the Local Government Association Environment Board, said: "By announcing the cuts at such short notice, Decc the deletion of thousands of solar collector systems caused some councils wrote millions of pounds had been spent to prepare and tender plants.."

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2:19 AM | 1 comments

The Solar Panels Cause Conflicts with Homeowner Groups

The government wants to install solar panels on the house, and will even give you a tax credit for it.
There is a lesson Angel David Dobša discovered when her owners association north of Atlanta denied their request to install solar panels on their roofs in. The neighborhood board officials will be out of place, and can lead to lower house values ​​in the community, regulates the details as fine as tile painting and planting trees and storage bins.

Homeowner associations throughout the country were banned or severely restricted the installation of solar panels and solar industry returns to stop the practice shifted.
Twenty states now prohibit or restrict, home and condominium owners or associations of local authorities prohibiting solar panels, according to a database run by the North Carolina State University.
Angel and David Dobša support the legislation, Georgia after their run-in with the homes association.
Leaders say Vickery Sea home insurance alliance Cumming, goes the argument about architecture and aesthetics, and not the benefits of solar energy. Houses automatically accept the community rules, if they buy a house there.
Taxpayers can now deduct 30 percent of the cost of installing solar panels, its federal tax bill. Other states and municipalities offer additional incentives.
Last year, the California Court of Appeal upheld the decision to spend a few solar panels, which were in the yard without the consent of the owner to remove the association installed. Is your lawn green?
Texas passed a law last year to prevent associations from blocking home solar panels completely. David said Dobša rules required that he and his wife's permission to build a solar panel to try.

He struck first installed 30 panels on two areas in parallel to the slope of the roof.
Owners Association has made this request, and three other Dobša.

Legislators in Georgia are trying to decide a problem with the legislation in the house and flat owners association the rest of the year whether to loosen the prohibition of solar panels. Homes associations may limit the board to the roof and enclosed courtyard and patios. You can require that the tiles are installed parallel to the slope of the roof and prohibit backyard solar panels, which is more than a fence around the rose.

Even in states that owners of houses and apartments will have the right to install solar panels for home recording and home organizations and beyond.
Neighborhood leaders in Salem, Oregon, Larry Lohrman Department refused the request to install solar panels on the roof, because their rules prohibited equipment, Lohrman said. He argued successfully that the Solar Rights Act of 1979, that ban was illegal, and he and a neighbor helped the club's draft guidelines for the installation of solar panels.

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5:34 AM | 1 comments