[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 36 (Monday, February 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10410-10411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03543]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Value Chain Industry Roundtable

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, DOC.

ACTION: Notice of a roundtable discussion on challenges and 
opportunities for strengthening the U.S. solar supply chain for PV 
manufacturing.

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SUMMARY: Through this notice, the International Trade Administration 
(ITA) of the Department of Commerce announces a roundtable discussion 
with industry representatives and U.S. government staff. ITA invites 
applications to participate in the roundtable from existing 
manufacturers and prospective new market entrants, with products that 
are or will be produced in the United States in one or more of the 
following segments: Solar-grade polysilicon, silicon ingots, silicon 
wafers, solar cells, and solar modules.

DATES: 
    Event: The roundtable will be held on March 19, 2020 from 9:30 a.m. 
to 4:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
    Event Registration: ITA will evaluate registrations based on the 
submitted information (see below) and inform applicants of selection 
decisions, which will be made on a rolling basis until 30 participants 
have been selected.

ADDRESSES: Event: The roundtable will be held at the Department of 
Commerce, Commerce Research Library, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW, 
Washington, DC 20230.

[[Page 10411]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Cora Dickson, Senior International 
Trade Specialist, ITA, at (202) 482-6083.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Global investment in solar technology and 
services (over $100 billion per year since 2010) has grown 
exponentially and is expected to be the dominant new electricity source 
for the next several decades. The United States ranks second in the 
world for overall solar generation capacity. Despite this large 
domestic demand for solar, U.S. manufacturers have difficulty competing 
with the massive scale and unfair trade practices of overseas 
suppliers, and the United States has thus become dependent on imports.
    The Department seeks individual input and views at the March 19, 
2020 roundtable regarding the United States solar PV value chain, 
including the following topics:
     National security implications of solar PV manufacturing 
in the United States and its related value chain;
     The current state of upstream manufacturing for solar PV 
in the United States, including solar cells, silicon wafers, 
polysilicon, and other key materials and components of PV modules;
     Long-range goals and strategic vision for solar PV 
innovation in the United States, including the role of both federal 
research and industry's collaboration with universities;
     The role of trade policy in providing a level playing 
field for U.S. solar PV manufacturing and its value chain to scale up 
and compete with imports; and
     Incentives that could attract investment in and strengthen 
the competitive position of U.S. manufacturers of solar PV and its 
value chain.
    Due to limited space, the event is closed to press and observers. 
Industry participation is limited to 30 qualifying industry 
representatives. Officials from the Department of Energy, Department of 
State, and other relevant agencies will also be invited to participate 
in the discussion.
    Selection: To attend, participants should submit the below 
information to [email protected] by March 10, 2020. I&A will 
evaluate registrations based on the submitted information (and based on 
the criteria below) on a rolling basis until 30 participants have been 
selected and inform applicants of selection decisions.
    Applicants are encouraged to send representatives at a sufficiently 
senior level to be knowledgeable about their organization's 
capabilities, interests and challenges in the U.S. solar PV value 
chain. Due to space constraints, there is a limit of one person per 
organization.
    Registrations should include the following information in their 
registration email:
     Name of attendee and short bio.
     Organization and brief organization description.
     A statement self-certifying how the organization meets 
each of the following criteria:
    1. It is not majority owned by a foreign government entity (or 
entities).
    2. It is an existing manufacturer or prospective new market 
entrant, with products that are or will be produced in the United 
States in one or more of the following segments: Solar-grade 
polysilicon, silicon ingots, silicon wafers, solar cells, and solar 
modules.
    3. In the case of a trade association, academic or research 
institution, the applicant will only be representing companies during 
the roundtable that satisfy each of the criteria above.
    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of the company's (or in the case of another 
organization, represented companies' or constituents') existing 
products in the solar PV value chain.
     Suitability of the company's (or in the case of another 
organization, represented companies' or constituents') experience in 
manufacturing in the United States.
     Suitability of the representative's position and biography 
to be able to engage in the conversation.
     Ability of the company or organization to contribute to 
the roundtable's purpose of seeking individual input and views on the 
United States solar PV value chain, including whether the company or 
organization may have conflicting interests, such that its selection 
could hinder the effectiveness of the roundtable.

    Dated: February 18, 2020.
Man Cho,
Deputy Director, Office of Energy and Environmental Industries.
[FR Doc. 2020-03543 Filed 2-21-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P