The U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association has released voluntary guidelines aimed at eliminating the use of forced labor to build solar panel components.
Some U.S. lawmakers have recently expressed concern that the industry is dependent upon the raw material polysilicon linked to work camps in China’s Xinjiang region. U.N. experts and rights groups estimate over a million people, mainly Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, have been detained in camps in Xinjiang in recent years.
Officials in China, the world’s largest maker of solar products, have denied accusations of abuse.
The guidelines, in the form of a 40-page document, outline measures companies should take to identify sources of a product’s materials and to analyze their movements through the supply chain. The recommendations include rigorous descriptions and documentation accompany products as they move through factories and are shipped to the U.S.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2019
Effort launched to develop better process for zero-carbon retrofits in multifamily sector
Rocky Mountain Institute, Dept. of Energy, California Energy Commission join forces.
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2019
Property lenders shouldn’t invest for 30 years in most of Florida, expert warns
Climate ignorance driving some ‘insane’ deals.
Codes and Standards | May 17, 2019
NIMBYism is the biggest multifamily construction barrier
National Apartment Assn. report assesses reasons for difficulty in creating more apartments.
Codes and Standards | May 17, 2019
Dept. of Energy to award up to $33.5 million for advanced construction R&D
Focus is on techniques to reduce energy bills.
Codes and Standards | May 16, 2019
Mixed reviews on targeted tax break for San Francisco neighborhood
“Twitter tax break” may have worsened some of the area’s problems.
Codes and Standards | May 15, 2019
OSHA inspections to increase, says Secretary of Labor
Newly hired inspectors getting up to speed.
Codes and Standards | May 14, 2019
Database records more than 1,360 K-12 school shooting incidents since 1970
Naval Postgraduate School program maps locations nationwide.
Codes and Standards | May 13, 2019
In many cities, downtown housing comes with a hefty premium
Urban core living costs hundreds of thousands more in largest U.S. cities.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
San Francisco plan would require largest commercial buildings to use 100% renewable electricity
First in the U.S. mandate would be phased in from 2022 to 2030.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
ABC says best practices can improve construction companies’ safety by 680%
Daily ‘toolbox safety talks’ were most effective safety measures.
