Minnesota plans to produce “carbon-free” electricity by 2040, focusing on solar energy. However, this initiative faces criticism from human rights activists due to concerns about solar panel production involving forced labor in China.
Forced Labor Concerns: A significant portion of solar panels worldwide, up to 95%, is reported to be made with materials produced using forced labor, particularly from China’s Xinjiang region, where the Uyghur Muslim minority faces alleged human rights abuses.
Import Restrictions: Both the Biden and Trump administrations have taken actions to restrict solar product imports linked to forced labor.U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has blocked some shipments under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, highlighting the ongoing issue of confirming supply chains free from forced labor.
Minnesota's Energy Transition: Minnesota's transition from coal to solar power, exemplified by the Sherco Solar project, requires solar panels primarily sourced from China, which raises ethical questions about the integrity of this "clean energy" transition.
Project Scale and Benefits: The Sherco Solar project will include around 1.7 million solar panels and aims to generate 910 megawatts of electricity, thus making it one of the largest solar installations in the U.S. The project is projected to create jobs and bring significant local economic benefits.
Industry Scrutiny: Experts emphasize the need for the renewable energy industry to scrutinize their supply chains to avoid complicity in human rights violations as the demand for solar energy continues to increase.
Minnesota's initiative to switch to solar energy opens a critical dialogue about the moral implications of relying on materials produced under forced labor conditions. The pressing need for ethical sourcing in the renewable energy sector remains an unresolved challenge amid the push for cleaner energy solutions.
https://dailycallernewsfoundation.org/2026/07/29/is-minnesotas-green-energy-built-on-slave-labor/
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