Renewable energy technologies (and solar especially) are about as important as oil was in the 20th century. America literally went to war multiple times internationally to get access to that sweet juice. It makes absolutely no sense that America would not want to have access to excessive amounts of cheap energy today, and that’s why it is straightforward that America will do a 180° turn-around and start calling the Chinese their “best friend” for providing them with ample amounts of solar energy panels.
So the thing about solar and electronic grade silicon is…
it’s made from dirt. You don’t even have to dig for it. Quartz is high yield, but it’s present in Sand, Silt, and Clay and makes up about 28% of mineral soil in the earth’s crust. You crush it, weight separate it, melt it down, crush it, weight separate it, melt it down again, and finally crystalize it using a crystal seeding method.