Youngkin Questions Pentagon’s $104 Million Solar Panel Plan Amidst National Security Concerns
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has penned a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressing serious concerns about the Pentagon’s $104 million plan to install solar panels on the Pentagon rooftop and other military installations. Youngkin emphasized his concern that there has been no stated requirement that such panels be made in America using American technology, raising national security and economic implications.
The governor highlighted the dominance of companies influenced or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the global solar supply chain and the need for the Defense Department to require domestic manufacturers with trusted supply chains for military solar panel procurements. Youngkin also raised environmental concerns, noting that Chinese solar panels have a higher carbon footprint than U.S. producers and often rely on forced labor in their production.
Youngkin questioned the prioritization of this investment and the potential national security implications of the procurement. He urged Austin to ensure that any hardware installed on the Pentagon is manufactured in the United States and the component materials are domestically sourced.
The Pentagon has not yet responded to a request for comment on Youngkin’s letter.
