US solar industry players celebrate Inflation Reduction Act at White House

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
President Joe Biden speaking at the event yesterday. Image: President Biden via Twitter.

US solar industry players gathered on the White House lawn yesterday to celebrate the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), one month after it was signed into law.

President Joe Biden was joined by lawmakers, renewables trade associations, solar developers and manufacturers, and activists at the event to commemorate the legislation, billed as the biggest climate package in US history.  

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

“We are going to take the most aggressive action ever, ever, ever to confront the climate crisis and increase our energy security,” Biden said during a speech.

Earmarking US$369 billion for decarbonisation efforts, the IRA includes expanded tax credits for utility-scale solar and manufacturing credits for a host of PV components.

Research firm Wood Mackenzie forecasts that the legislation will increase US utility-scale solar buildout by 86% over the next ten years, while trade body the Solar Energy Industries Association has suggested the country could exceed 50GW of solar manufacturing capacity by the end of this decade thanks to incentives included in the act.

Passage of the legislation followed a period of uncertainty earlier in the year as Democrats were unable to get the larger Build Back Better act through the Senate. However, key Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia struck a deal in late July to vote on the IRA.

Among the attendees of the White House event was Dan Shugar, CEO of tracker manufacturer Nextracker, who wrote on LinkedIn that it was an honour to be invited to celebrate what he described as the largest clean tech manufacturing policy in US history.

He wrote: “Now we need to deliver. Deliver US manufacturing capacity. Deliver US jobs. Deliver lower cost for customers. And further energy security, clean air, and clean water.”

Having opened three factories in the US this year – in PennsylvaniaTexas and Arizona – Nextracker has confirmed to PV Tech that it is considering accelerating and increasing production at its facilities as a result of the IRA.

Also present at the event was Mary Powell, CEO of residential solar installer Sunrun, who said the IRA drastically increases access to clean, reliable and affordable sources of energy, adding: “American families can now take advantage of new tax incentives for home solar, batteries, heating, electric vehicles and so much more. It’s a huge win for the American people.”

25 April 2024
5pm BST (9am PDT)
The webinar will provide the very latest trends in PV module supply and what is important when assessing product quality and reliability. How many of the imported modules for example, from Southeast Asia and India, are based on n-type TOPCon and heterojunction now? What is important to look at when assessing these new technologies’ reliability?
21 May 2024
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 21-22 May 2024, will be our third PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2025 and beyond.
8 October 2024
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 8-9 October 2024 is our second PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The event in 2023 was a sell out success and 2024 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 10, 2024
Dallas, Texas USA
Solar Media Events
April 17, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
May 1, 2024
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2024
Napa, USA