Gov. Polis Urges U.S. Secretary of Commerce to Conclude Solar Investigation & Not Impose Tariffs

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Under Polis administration’s leadership, Colorado is on track towards achieving 100% renewable energy by 2040, saving Coloradans money, and protecting livelihoods of hardworking clean energy workers

DENVER - Governor Jared Polis sent a letter urging U.S. Department of Commerce’s Secretary Gina M. Raimondo to end the federal investigation of antidumping on imported solar products from Asia in order to prevent price increases for solar energy and minimize supply chain disruption to critical solar projects in Colorado on our path to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2040.  

“Achieving 100% renewable electricity for Colorado by 2040 and a 50% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions statewide by 2030 are top priorities for my Administration. To accomplish this, we expect at least 2.9 GWdc of new solar capacity to be added to Colorado through 2025 – more than a doubling of Colorado’s currently installed capacity in the next three years. I have also seen that the transition to renewable energy saves people money, with current plans anticipated to save Colorado ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars through lower and less volatile energy costs,” Governor Polis writes. 

“This investigation jeopardizes our shared interest in providing financial relief to residents in the transition to affordable clean energy. The uncertainty around the Department of Commerce’s decision, and the threat of retroactive and/or prospective tariffs, are significantly damaging the State’s ability to achieve these goals,” Gov. Polis continues. 

“The Colorado solar and storage industry employs over 9,400 hardworking people across the State and has been one of the quickest industries to recover and grow through the pandemic. Many American jobs, which depend on those projects, are at risk if Commerce heads down its current procedural path and imposes a prohibitively high tariff on much-needed imported solar products,” the letter continues.

“I strongly urge the Commerce Department to quickly conclude this investigation and not impose tariffs. Commerce should promote, not deter, growth in the American solar industry. The solar industry is creating good paying jobs for the residents of Colorado, spurring massive investment in our economy, and driving high-tech innovation across the State. The current circumvention proceeding is causing measurable, immediate harm to the people of Colorado,” the letter reads.