SEMA urges solar policy reform, citing China dependency

11 Apr 2024 CW Team

After US Treasury Secretary Janet L Yellen's visit to China, the Solar Energy Manufacturers for America (SEMA) Coalition urged immediate White House and Treasury action regarding the issues confronting domestic solar manufacturing. The coalition expressed worries about the accumulation of below-cost imported solar modules and requested an update to the domestic content bonus credit rules of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

SEMA highlighted that the existing credit system allows modules mainly made in China to be treated as if they were produced in the US with minimal domestic processing. According to them, this policy undermines local manufacturers and increases US reliance on Chinese solar products.

Mike Carr, Executive Director of SEMA Coalition, stated, "We?re heartened that Secretary Yellen acknowledged the unlevel playing field from which Chinese-headquartered solar manufacturers are currently benefiting and the fragility inherent in the U.S.?s dependence on China for solar. But it?s time to act. The White House must act aggressively to re-balance the playing field and end the destructive race to the bottom we are currently in with importers."

The Coalition advocates for policies supporting the expansion of a sustainable domestic solar manufacturing supply chain, with an emphasis on including U.S.-produced solar grade polysilicon and solar wafer in the Domestic Content Bonus calculation.

Carr added, "The government is facilitating a dependence on China that we wouldn?t allow in any other sector; we must ensure our stability and security as we transition to clean energy."

A report commissioned by SEMA and authored by Guidehouse Insights highlighted the opportunity and policy recommendations for onshoring the solar manufacturing industry to strengthen US energy security and address the challenges posed by the current dominance of foreign interests in the industry.

Equipment

11 Dec 2025

Caterpillar Debuts Three New Cat Excavators at EXCON 2025

Caterpillar Inc., a global leader in construction and mining machinery, strengthened its commitment to India’s infrastructure growth with the debut of three new Cat® hydraulic excavators at EXCON 2025, held from December 9–13 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. The new models—Cat 321, Cat 322 and Cat 324—mark a significant step forward in delivering efficient, digital-ready equipment tailored for India’s evolving construction needs.Designed to support sustainability and productivity on modern jobsites, the machines feature advanced powertrains and intelligent electrohy..

JK Tyre Expands OTR Lineup with Four New Launches at EXCON 2025

JK Tyre & Industries, one of India’s leading tyre manufacturers, introduced four new Off-the-Road (OTR) tyres at the 13th edition of CII EXCON 2025, South Asia’s largest construction equipment exhibition, underway at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. The latest additions strengthen the company’s OTR portfolio and reaffirm its focus on delivering advanced mobility solutions for construction, mining and industrial operations.The new tyres were unveiled by R Mukhopadhyay, Director (R&D), JK Tyre. Among the highlights was the debut of the SKY GRIP, a specialised tyre des..

ACE, Sanghvi Movers Ink MOU to Boost India-Made Heavy Crane Adoption

Action Construction Equipment (ACE), the world’s largest pick-and-carry crane manufacturer and a leading Indian construction equipment maker, has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Sanghvi Movers, Asia’s largest and the world’s fifth-largest crane rental company. The partnership aims to accelerate the deployment of indigenously manufactured heavy slew cranes, particularly truck cranes and crawler cranes, across large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects in India.The alliance aligns strongly with the Government of India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “M..