Bernie Moreno Calls For National Security Probe Into Chinese Solar Firm’s Planned Facility Near Air Force Base
Sen. Bernie Moreno is demanding a federal national security investigation into a Chinese solar manufacturer seeking to acquire or lease a facility just 13 miles from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, warning the proposed transaction could pose a serious risk to U.S. military and intelligence operations.
In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the Ohio Republican urged the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review SolarSpace Technology Co., Ltd.’s plans to occupy a facility at 2555 Woodman Drive in Kettering. Moreno argued the company could be a “shell company” acting on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party to advance Beijing’s military and intelligence objectives.
Moreno emphasized the strategic importance of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, describing it as one of the nation’s premier military installations. The base employs roughly 38,000 people and serves as a major center for aerospace research, engineering, intelligence operations, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. He argued that allowing a Chinese-owned company to establish operations so close to the installation presents unnecessary national security concerns.
The senator’s request comes amid broader concerns about Chinese investment near sensitive U.S. military facilities. In recent years, lawmakers and national security experts have raised alarms over Chinese entities purchasing farmland and commercial properties near military bases across the country. Moreno said those patterns demonstrate the need for greater scrutiny before similar transactions are allowed to proceed.
Moreno also pointed to pending legislation introduced by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott that would expand CFIUS oversight of foreign real estate transactions near military installations and other critical infrastructure. The proposal would require enhanced national security reviews and regular updates identifying sensitive sites that warrant additional protections.
A Treasury Department spokesperson acknowledged receiving Moreno’s letter but declined to comment on the specific transaction, noting that CFIUS reviews are confidential under federal law. Representatives for SolarSpace did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The proposed Ohio facility is now expected to receive increased attention as federal officials determine whether the transaction warrants a formal national security review.