U.S. Invokes Korean War-Era Law to Boost Clean Energy

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS--June 8, 2022--Written by John Egan for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The solar power industry was one of several electric power industry supplier groups that welcomed President Joe Biden's June 6 decision to invoke a Korean War-era federal law to accelerate domestic production of five key energy technologies. These include: solar; electric transformers and electric grid components; electric heat pumps; insulation; and electrolyzers, fuel cells and platinum group metals. Invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA), Biden said that these segments were "essential to our national security, a resilient energy sector and the preservation of domestic critical infrastructure critical to national security." The affected supplier groups provided "industrial resources, materials or critical technology items essential to the national defense," the declarations said, adding that domestic suppliers "cannot reasonably be expected to provide the capability for the needed industrial resource, material or critical technology item in a timely manner." Therefore, "purchases, purchase commitments or other action pursuant to section 303 of the (DPA) are the most cost effective, expedient, and practical alternative method for meeting the need." Companies featured: General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)