New Tariffs Will Shake Up the Solar Industry

The first protectionist policies implemented by the Trump Administration, a key part of the president's campaign platform, will affect the renewable energy industry.

2 minute read

January 26, 2018, 2:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Silicon Valley

Andrei Stanescu / Shutterstock

"President Trump slapped steep tariffs on imports of washing machines and solar energy cells and panels on Monday, the first major step by the administration to erect the kind of trade barriers Mr. Trump has frequently said are necessary to protect manufacturers in the United States," report Ana Swanson and Brad Plumer.

The tariffs are the first of an expected series of trade measures that could eventually also reach industries like steel, aluminum, and other products. For now, however, the solar industry and environmentalists are scrambling to make sense of the new policy.

After breaking the news of the new tariffs, Swanson and Plumer wrote a separate article that digs into the human-and-corporate-interest angle of the news. While two solar companies, Suniva and SolarWorld sought the tariffs, "they are expected to ripple throughout the industry in ways that may ultimately hurt American companies and their workers," according to Swanson and Plumer. Moreover, "[e]nergy experts say it is unlikely that the tariffs will create more than a small number of American solar manufacturing jobs, since low-wage countries will continue to have a competitive edge."

Furthering the idea that the tariffs won't be a boon for the entire solar industry, Andrew Maykuth writes an article that checks-in with local solar installation companies in Philadelphia, where the owner of one business is very pessimistic about the effects of the tariffs.

And in a potential surprise take, Al Gore took to the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos and defended the action by President Trump, saying the tariffs are not "an utter catastrophe." 

Monday, January 22, 2018 in New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight