East Central Reporter

Chris Miller, a state representative from Illinois, has raised concerns about the security risks posed by Chinese-made parts in renewable energy systems. He has filed legislation to prevent their use, making his statement on the social media platform X.

"Chinese “kill switches” have been found hidden in American solar farms," said Chris G. Miller, according to Facebook. "I filed legislation that creates the Rogue Component Installation Prevention Act to protect the great state of Illinois from the Chinese Communist Party and their efforts to compromise our energy grid. Pritzker has allowed a security threat to form in our state. he is doing nothing about it."

U.S. national security officials are currently investigating reports of "kill switches" found in Chinese-manufactured solar inverters used by American energy companies. According to Reuters, these devices may allow for rogue communication, potentially enabling remote access or shutdown of power systems. This discovery has led to calls for stricter oversight of foreign components in renewable energy infrastructure.

Illinois has rapidly expanded its renewable energy capacity, with projections reaching 6,187 megawatts (MW) of solar and 10,326 MW of wind by early 2025. While there is no public data identifying the specific origin of installed components, state programs like Illinois Shines have supported significant growth. The Illinois Clean Energy Progress Tracker notes that concerns persist over the sourcing of parts amid national security debates.

Federal and state governments have introduced measures targeting foreign-made components in critical infrastructure. The American Clean Power Association reports that ongoing Section 232 investigations and proposed tariffs on Chinese solar materials could disrupt clean energy deployment. States like Illinois are also considering legislation banning foreign adversary parts in grid infrastructure to reduce cybersecurity risks.

According to the Illinois General Assembly, Miller is a Republican State Representative serving the 110th District since 2019. He sits on committees related to energy, environment, and agriculture and has introduced legislation to ban components made by foreign adversaries in Illinois energy systems. Miller has expressed concerns over Chinese influence in U.S. infrastructure and technology supply chains.