The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has launched an investigation into trade and market trends in the renewable energy services sector.

The investigation, Renewable Energy and Related Services: Recent Developments, was requested by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

The USITC provided reports on trade in this sector to the USTR in 2005. In the request letter, the USTR stated that since the publication of that report, the U.S. and global markets for such services have undergone significant change. The USTR noted that technological improvements and decreasing prices have led to rapid demand growth in the renewable energy services sector, particularly in the wind and solar power segments, but that changes in government incentive programs have created uncertainty regarding the future of the renewable energy market.

As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will, to the extent practicable:

• define types of renewable energy and related services, identify leading suppliers, and generally describe the relationship of renewable energy services to the development of renewable energy projects worldwide;
• estimate the size of the U.S. and global markets for certain renewable energy services, identify key export and import markets for such services, and describe factors affecting supply and demand;
• examine U.S. and global renewable energy services trade during 2007-2011, and highlight recent trends in investment in renewable energy projects and firms, including new business strategies or practices;
• identify barriers to U.S. trade and investment in renewable energy services, and examine recent efforts to liberalize trade in leading markets for such services; and
• examine the role of clean energy incentive programs in encouraging investment in and creating markets for renewable energy goods and services.

The USITC expects to deliver its report to the USTR by June 28, 2013.

The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with this at 9:30 a.m. on November 29, 2012. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on November 15, 2012, with the Secretary to the Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.

The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record for the report. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary to the Commission at the above address and should be submitted no later than 5:15 p.m. on March 1, 2013. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.

Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated August 27, 2012. Questions about appearances and submissions should be directed to the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the USITC's objective findings and independent analyses on the subject investigated. The USITC makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigations reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.