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WASHINGTON, OC 20510

August 11,2017
The Honorable Rhonda K. Schmidtlein
Chairman
U.S. International Trade Commission
500 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20436
Re: Investigation TA-201-75
Dear Chairman Schmidtlein:
As U.S, Senators representing stales that have a growing solar industry, wc write to
express our deep concern with the pending Section 201 global safeguard case regarding solar cell
and module manufacturing in the United States. The petition requests that the President impose
high tariffs on imported solar cells and high minimum prices for imported solar modules. As part
o f lhe U.S. International Trade Commission's investigation, we respectfully request that you also
consider i f the proposed trade remedies would negatively affect the American solar industry.
The solar industry is now booming across the nation. According to the Solar Energy
Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Foundation's 2016 Solar Jobs Census, 9,000 solar
companies employed over 260,000 American workers. One out o f every 50 new jobs added by
our economy in 2016 was a solar job. However, all o f t h e tremendous growth in solar
investments, installations, and jobs could be in danger i f the trade case causes solar prices to
spike significantly.
Solar companies in our states believe the requested trade protection would double the
price o f solar panels. Increasing costs w i l l stop solar growth dead in its tracks, threatening lens o f
thousands o f American workers in the solar industry and jeopardizing billions o f dollars in
investment in communities across the country. According to SEIA, more than 88,000 American
solar jobs could be lost next year i f the proposed tariffs are imposed, Moreover, G T M Research
estimates (he tariffs would cut tlie demand for solar projects in half over (he next five years.
These tariffs would especially hurt residential rooftop solar projects that are growing rapidly.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that small-scale solar generation nearly
doubled from 2014 to 2016.
Again, we respectfully request that the Commission carefully consider the potential
negative impact lhat the high tariffs and minimum prices requested would have on the tens o f
thousands o f solar workers in our states and on the hundreds o f companies that employ them.
Sincerely,

M A R T I N 11E1NR1CI1
United States Senator

T H O M TILLIS
United States Senator

 D A V I D PERDUE
United States Senator

M I C H A E L F. BENNET
United States Senator

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United States Senator

CORY G/^RDNER
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SHELDON WHITEHOUSE
United States Senator

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United States Senator

CItRIS V A N H O L L E N
United States Senator

JERRY M O R A N
United States Senator

B E N J A M I N L. C A R D I N
United States Senator

T I M SCOTT
United States Senator

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United States Senator

SUSAN M . COLLINS ~
United States Senator

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