Trump Mulls Tariffs That Could Eviscerate Solar Panel Installers

One of the fastest-growing industries in the US is bracing for the ill effects of a prospective tariff from the Trump administration.

If you’ve ever been home during daylight hours, you’ve probably had a close encounter with solar installers. The cinematic cult classic, Birdemic, has an entire scene devoted to just that. Meanwhile, the U.S. International Trade Commission claimed back in October that imports are hindering domestic manufacturing, and the agency recommended tariffs up to 35 percent. President Trump is considering it.

A green energy research firm estimates that a tariff like this could kill up to 88,000 jobs in the solar power installation market which, as the AP notes, benefits from cheap overseas manufacturing. The AP points out that imports of silicon photovoltaic cells catapulted nearly 500 percent between 2012 and 2016.

On the other end of this fine example of crony capitalism, er … controversy, are Suniva Inc., a Georgia-based subsidiary of a Chinese firm and SolarWorld Americas, the US branch of a German company. They argue that a crippling tariff could actually create 45,000 domestic jobs, including a net increase in solar installers.

While domestic solar panel manufacturing has struggled to keep pace with China (hence the conundrum), photovoltaic installation has soared, and this tariff could have broad repercussions – one way or the other – for this burgeoning industry.

"We are selling energy that can be created by wind, by natural gas, by hydro, by coal, by nukes,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group for U.S. installers. “When you raise the price of what we are selling, we can't compete."

Jim Petersen, CEO of PetersenDean, a California rooftop installer, claims that tariffs would compel him to lay off up to 25 percent of his 3,200 installers.

All of this rests on Trump, who has broad discretion – unchecked by Congress – to reject the tariffs, agree to them, or even increase them.

Read more here: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/solar-industry-edge-trump-weighs-tariffs-panels-52515645