Federal solar ban targets China—but may slow U.S. renewable energy
S. 3320 — Keep China Out of Solar Energy Act of 2025 · Filed by Rick Scott (R-FL) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Dec 3, 2025 · Referred to committee
Your members of Congress
Enter a ZIP to see where your representative and both senators stood on this bill.
Looked up on this device — your ZIP is never stored on our servers.
What it does
This bill prohibits federal agencies from buying solar panels manufactured or assembled by Chinese companies or entities controlled by the Chinese government. Within 180 days, the Office of Management and Budget must create rules to block federal contracts, subcontracts, grants, and government purchase cards from funding Chinese-made solar panels. Agencies can request waivers only if they certify that Chinese panels are the only viable option and the State Department and Department of Homeland Security jointly approve.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a procurement ban targeting a foreign competitor (China) to protect and incentivize domestic solar manufacturing. It is framed as national security but functions as industrial policy favoring U.S. solar producers.
What the text implies
- Waiver process requires joint State Department and DHS approval, creating a political gate-keeping mechanism that may delay or block federal renewable projects on non-technical grounds.
- Definition of 'covered entity' is broad and delegated to DHS ('subject to influence or control'), potentially capturing supply-chain partners and joint ventures not directly owned by China, expanding the ban's scope unpredictably.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
U.S. solar panel manufacturers (First Solar, Sunpower, Enphase Energy); Domestic solar supply-chain companies; U.S. renewable energy installers and integrators