[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31698-31699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12555]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panel Value Chain Industry Roundtable

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of a roundtable discussion on challenges and 
opportunities for strengthening the U.S. solar supply chain for 
photovoltaic (PV) panel 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 officials. ITA 
invites applications from industry representatives 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 June 29, 2021 from 1:00 p.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 25 participants 
have been selected.

ADDRESSES:
    Event: The roundtable will be held via WebEx and the link for the 
meeting will be provided to registered participants.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cora Dickson, Senior International 
Trade Specialist, ITA, at [email protected] or (202) 482-6083

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Energy Agency (IEA) 
forecasts that the world will add at least 145 gigawatts (GW) of solar 
capacity this year and 162 GW in 2022. The United States ranks second 
in the world for

[[Page 31699]]

overall solar generation capacity and its solar deployment continues to 
grow exponentially, with around 20 GW added in 2020. Despite this large 
domestic demand for solar, U.S. manufacturers have experienced 
competitive challenges, and the United States has thus become more 
reliant on imports including for PV components such as solar cells.
    The Department seeks individual input and views at the June 29, 
2021 roundtable regarding the U.S. solar PV panel (module) value chain, 
including the following topics:
     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;
     The potential contribution of U.S. solar panel 
manufacturing towards the Biden Administration's overarching clean 
energy goals as set out in the Executive Order ``Tackling the Climate 
Crisis at Home and Abroad;''
     Best practices and policy proposals to incentivize further 
investment in a responsible solar panel manufacturing supply chain in 
the United States; and
     How to ensure that future federal procurement of solar 
energy will maximize the deployment of solar panels made in the United 
States.
    The event is closed to press and public. Industry participation is 
limited to 25 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 no later than June 22, 2021. ITA will 
evaluate registrations based on the submitted information (and based on 
the criteria below) on a rolling basis until 25 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 company's capabilities, 
interests and challenges in the U.S. solar PV value chain. Due to time 
constraints, there is a limit of one person to speak on behalf of each 
company. However, each selected participant may invite one additional 
person from their company as an observer.
    Registrations should include the following information in their 
registration email:
     Name of attendee and short bio.
     Name of company and brief company description.
     A statement self-certifying how the company 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. The representative will be able to attend the entire roundtable.
    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of the company's existing products in the 
solar PV value chain.
     Suitability of the company's 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 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 may have 
conflicting interests or that its selection could hinder the 
effectiveness of the roundtable.

    Dated: June 9, 2021.
Man Cho,
Deputy Director, Office of Energy and Environmental Industries.
[FR Doc. 2021-12555 Filed 6-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P