State Representative Pauline Wendzel has introduced legislation seeking to ensure that green energy projects use ethically sourced components.
Her office says the legislation ensures that in order to receive any taxpayer dollars, the components used in the production of electric vehicles and green energy generation are not produced using forced, unsafe, oppressive child or slave labor. It tells us materials like cobalt and polysilicon come from areas like the Democratic Republic of Congo and China, where child labor and, in some cases, forced labor are used.
Wendzel’s legislation amends the Management and Budget Act to prohibit state procurement of electric vehicles unless provided with a sworn declaration that the manufacturer certifies every person involved in the mining or sourcing of the materials used did not employ forced labor or child labor.
Other Republicans joined her with bills also seeking ethical sourcing of materials in green energy projects.
Wendzel says with the state House going to an even split come January, she hopes the package has a chance of passage.
