National Security Investigation Launched Into Imported Polysilicon

U.S. Opens National‑Security Probe Into Solar‑Grade Polysilicon

What’s newThe Trump administration, in collaboration with the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security, and the Commerce Department, launched a Section 232 investigation into whether imported polysilicon and its downstream products threaten national security. 

The inquiry (which was quietly initiated on July 1, but not revealed until July 14) could let the President impose new tariffs on top of the existing 50% Section 301 duties on Chinese materials.

Why it matters

Polysilicon is the raw material for close to  95 % of solar panels and key semiconductor wafers.

Beijing‑backed producers now hold roughly 93 % of global polysilicon capacity. It’s unlikely that U.S.-based polysilicon suppliers could meet sudden “Buy American” demand.

The Department of Commerce has asked for public comments on:

* How much polysilicon (and related materials) the U.S. market needs today and is likely to need in the future

* Whether factories on American soil can cover that demand

* How heavily U.S. buyers rely on overseas suppliers

* Risks that come from importing from only a few foreign sources

* The potential threat of foreign governments curbing exports and using supply control as economic leverage

* What it would take to scale up domestic polysilicon production and lessen dependence on imports

Stakeholders have until mid‑August to submit comments and data.

House GOP Spending Bill Cuts Renewables, Shifts Cash to Nuclear & Fossil R&D

What’s newHouse appropriators released their fiscal 2026 Energy‑Water budget that cuts DOE discretionary funding by $1.4 billion, with a 46 % hit to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy and zero dollars allocated for solar and wind R&D.

Why it matters

The new guidelines scrap programs from the Inflation Reduction Act designed to fund PV cost‑curve research, offshore wind, building efficiency, and electric‑vehicle infrastructure.

That funding is rerouted to civilian nuclear, advanced reactor fuel, and fossil‑generation R&D, in line with President Trump’s agenda to “restore firm baseload power.”

The Office of Grid Deployment and the Office of Electricity each see double‑digit cuts, even as utilities warn of record load growth from AI data centers.

“I am proud that, in tight fiscal times where every dollar spent must be scrutinized, the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill makes historic investments in our national security and nuclear deterrent, restores American energy production, and stops wasteful, unnecessary spending.”

- Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn), House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee Chair

After the subcommittee markup on July 15, the bill must square with the Senate’s version, which is yet to be released.

PA’s Solar‑for‑Schools Faces Non-Renewal

What’s newPennsylvania’s Solar for Schools program (launched with $25 million last year and already oversubscribed) risks losing the federal 30 % IRA credit and may be left unfunded in the state’s delayed budget.

Why it matters

The Trump Administration’s new tax law lets districts claim the credit only if construction starts by July 2026 or the array is online by the end of 2027.

Forty‑five entities have secured $22.5 million for 73 arrays from Erie to Philadelphia. Applications for solar for schools funds were 3 to 1 in the first round.

Pennsylvania Senate GOP leader Joe Pittman has questioned whether the $25 million in funding should be renewed. House Democrats argue the grants cut utility bills and property‑tax pressure for schools, freeing up funding that can be put to better use for internal programs.

Districts like Upper Darby (with six projects in the works totaling $2.3 million) and Tunkhannock (with eight projects totaling $1.7 million) may downsize or abandon installations if they’re unable to claim the tax credits.

School leaders and interested citizens must contact representatives to ensure that this funding is renewed.

Sources:

US launches new tariff investigation into imported polysilicon

Trump starts “weaponization” of polysilicon investigation

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