Administration must halt assault on solar industry

  

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Written by Michael Eland, President of Eland Electric

First, it was steel. Then came paper. Now, unless the Obama administration acts, Wisconsin's solar manufacturing industry will be the next victim of China's efforts to undercut American manufacturers and destroy jobs.As the president of a company that installs solar systems in the Green Bay area, I have seen the impact of China's efforts first-hand. In the past, we had dozens of options to choose from when buying solar panels. Chinese companies were on the same playing field as the rest.

Today, the situation is quite different. The Chinese dominate the solar industry, representing more than half of the market. How did things change so quickly? The reason: China's tried and true practices of subsidies and dumping.

The Chinese national and provincial governments have provided subsidies at mind-boggling levels. Consider this: between 2002 and 2009, China provided its paper industry $33.1 billion in subsidies that were used to cripple Wisconsin's paper industry. In 2010 alone, the Energy Department estimates the Chinese solar industry got more than $30 billion. Moreover, Chinese CEOs admit they have been dumping their modules at prices they admit are unsustainable.