Pentagon dismisses worries about Chinese solar panels
The Department of Defense Rejects Concerns Over Chinese Materials in Solar Panel Project
The Department of Defense has recently pushed back against concerns raised over the use of Chinese materials in a project to install solar panels on the roof of the Pentagon and other installations. This comes after Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin expressed worries that the $104 million plan, funded by taxpayers, would involve Chinese materials, posing potential threats to U.S. national security.
Youngkin’s letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was prompted by a Department of Defense announcement in January regarding the solar panel project. The Pentagon cited the initiative as part of the Biden administration’s push for clean energy and to establish the federal government as a sustainability leader.
Aside from the Pentagon, 30 other Defense Department sites, including the U.S. Army Garrison in Wiesbaden, Germany, were set to receive solar panels as part of the project. Youngkin voiced his concerns about the plan, pointing out that companies with strong ties to or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) dominate the global solar supply chain. He stressed the need for U.S. military procured solar panels to come from verified domestic manufacturers with trusted supply chains.
According to a Pentagon spokesperson, “the Department is leveraging its considerable purchasing power to support the growth of the U.S. carbon pollution-free energy industry and its allied commercial supply chains to provide clean energy generation for our warfighters in a resilient and diversified manner.”
A spokesperson from Youngkin’s office expressed satisfaction with the Pentagon’s response, noting that the governor is pleased that Secretary Austin will adhere to the recommendations to implement ‘Made in America’ requirements for procuring solar panels from China. The spokesperson also emphasized the importance of recognizing China’s aims to dominate the world and the necessity for the U.S. to detach its renewable energy sector from China to achieve energy independence and protect national security.
Through these actions, the Department of Defense is demonstrating its commitment to promoting clean energy while also safeguarding national security interests. By prioritizing domestic sources for solar panel procurement, the Pentagon is taking proactive steps to mitigate potential risks associated with foreign dependencies in critical infrastructure projects.
