With the recent announcement of steep tariffs on solar panels and cells imported to the U.S., the question is whether there is going to be a winner in this playoff of Us against Them.
Us, pardon the pun, is the U.S., specifically manufacturers of solar products and, even more specifically, the publicized efforts of two solar companies, Suniva Inc. and SolarWorld Americas, who said cheap imports were hurting their U.S. operations.
Who is Them? Take your pick. China. South Korea. Malaysia. World trade organizations. Anyone buying solar power. Solar power workers.
Opinions are running strong and hot on whether tariffs (initiated by a little used trade law about industries affected by imports) will help or hinder the fast-growing solar industry in the U.S.
For the next four years, the tariffs start at 30% and will eventually fall to 15%. The first 2.5 gigawatts of solar cells will be exempt so that U.S. manufacturers can still access supplies.
Will the tariffs make solar energy more expensive? Will they slow down the exponential growth of solar installations? Will the tariffs result in losing U.S. jobs and, if so, how many and in what segments?
Here’s what The New York Times had to say.
Inquiring minds would like to know your opinion!
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By Steven J. Schleider, MAI, LEED-AP BD + C President, Metropolitan Valuation Services
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