White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre could not explain why Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) to produce more solar panels. He m This is in the midst of the highest gas prices in history.
On Monday, Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to boost manufacturing solar panels and other clean energy equipment to further his green energy push.
It was the Press Secretary’s reaction to a certain question about it that left people confused. She couldn’t explain why Joe Biden had invoked the DPA to produce the panels.
“What’s the real emergency in the solar industry for the Defense Production Act?” Fox Business reporter Edward Lawrence asked Jean-Pierre.
Jean-Pierre refused to explain reasoning for the move and deflected.
“The president, when he takes the Defense Production Act, it’s to make sure that he’s delivering for the American people,” Jean-Pierre replied. “It is an important tool that he has used a couple of times and has been incredibly effective. He is invoking the Defense Production Act to rapidly expand domestic production of solar panel parts, building insulation, heat pumps and more.”
Another reporter for Fox News Jacqui Henrich asked if Biden using the DPA for solar is helping the Chinese, as much of the world’s solar equipment is manufactured there. Watch Jean-Pierre’s response next.
“On the solar panels, how is this not a gift to Chinese solar manufacturers who–many of whom operate with forced labor and are subsidized by the Chinese Communist Party?” Heinrich said.
The press secretary insisted Biden wants to push clean energy as the reason to institute the DPA and that it would not benefit China in any way.
“These actions do not apply to any materials imported from China. Import duties will remain in place on solar cells and panels from China or Taiwan,” she said.
Critics of the president questioned why Biden was using a war power to boost the solar energy sector.
“Biden’s irresponsible & arguably constitutionally corrupt misuse of the Defense Production Act should concern every American. The DPA isn’t a get out of jail free card to cover for lazy & inept governance, which is exactly how this administration uses it,” tweeted Rep. Byron Daniels from Florida.
Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) also ripped into the president in a tweet: “Can’t find baby formula for your newborn? Can’t afford to fill up your gas tank? Don’t worry, @POTUS will have new solar panels ready in no time…”
So far, the Biden administration has not enlightened Americans on the full national-defense scenario necessitating the use of the DPA, but alluded to using it to boost energy production in the home front and stop reliance on foreign energy sources.
“President Biden has invoked the Defense Production Act so that the U.S. can take ownership of its clean energy independence,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “For too long the nation’s clean energy supply chain has been over-reliant on foreign sources and adversarial nations. With the new DPA authority, DOE can help strengthen domestic solar, heat pump and grid manufacturing industries while fortifying America’s economic security and creating good-paying jobs, and lowering utility costs along the way.”
Meanwhile, gas prices are the highest they have ever been, but Biden is trying to instead push for more solar panel production.
Recently, Biden invoked the act to speed up the production of baby formula to fight against the shortage hitting the country. We covered the controversy of when Biden was made aware of the crisis earlier this month. The president said he did not find out until April about the crisis. However, other people in his administration say otherwise.
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