Here is the report on the new solar cell tariff by a company in the Solar business. This company installs rather than manufactures solar panels, but there is a manufacturer of solar panels in Bellingham. I think you will find this report more measured and moderate that all the screaming hype on FaceBook.
from an email.
--Kim
New Solar Tariffs and the Expected Impact on Washington Solar |
On January 22nd, the Trump Administration announced a four-year tariff program on imported solar cells and modules (solar panels), declaring an intention to provide relief for U.S. manufacturers against what they perceive as unfair trade practices. Based on a petition from manufacturers Suniva and SolarWorld Americas in mid-2017, the International Trade Commission (ITC) determined that increased solar cell and module imports "are a substantial cause of serious injury to the domestic industry." We're still in the early days and waiting on the official publishing in the Federal Register, but here's what we know so far and how we expect it to affect the Washington solar market, specifically. Solar in National Headlines: Let's Break Down the Numbers While the start date on the tariff is still unclear, it is scheduled to be in effect from 2018 through 2022, starting at 30% and stepping down by 5% each year. As prices for solar equipment are generally spoken of in dollars or cents per watt, this roughly equates to an average $0.10/watt tariff in 2018, ending in a $0.04/watt tariff in year four (GTM Research). While these aren't the numbers we'd like to see, the impact isn't as negative as the industry as a whole initially feared, given that those most affected have already been preparing for the 50% tariff that Suniva and SolarWorld had requested. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) issued a press release stating that this decision will cause the loss of roughly 23,000 American jobs. In the podcast Trump's Solar Tariffs: We Answer Your Questions, GTM Research discusses the distinction that this is not current jobs being lost, but rather a reduction in jobs created based on the estimated solar demand models from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). According to industry experts, job growth is expected to continue, but at a lower rate than recent employment trends indicated. Where do we expect these changes to be felt the most? The 2016 National Solar Jobs Census found that the solar industry employed over 260,000 workers by the end of 2016, accounting for 1 in 50 new jobs created in the United States. 38,000 of these jobs were in manufacturing, 137,000 in the installation sector, with the remainder in sales and distribution, project development, research and development, and finance. Proportionally, the biggest impact will be on the installation sector; however, more specifically, the impact will be weighted more toward utility-scale solar. Of the expected 7.6 gigawatt reduction in new solar growth over the next five years, about 65% is expected from utility-scale. With projects of this scale, margins are very thin and module prices make up a larger percent of development costs. The lead-up to the ITC ruling provided an opportunity for developers to plan for increased costs and led to advanced procurement of imported modules before the tariffs go into effect. As such, GTM Research expects 2018 to be relatively insulated from the tariffs, with 2019 having the biggest impact on the utility sector. In the residential solar sector, tariff impacts will be reduced, due to modules making up a smaller percentage of system and installation costs. The exception will likely be new and emerging state solar markets. Southern states such as Texas, Florida, and South Carolina are expected to be among the most significantly impacted, with Suniva's home state of Georgia the fourth most affected market. Oregon comes in as eighth most affected and is home to SolarWorld Americas. Beginning with the implementation of the production incentive program in 2006, Washington's solar market has functioned a little differently from other states. Our state incentivizes customers for installing locally-manufactured solar equipment. Because of this incentive, we have a healthy manufacturing base in Washington State that may initially benefit from this tariff decision. Thus far, Washington has not seen large development in utility-scale solar, with most solar installers in the state focusing primarily on the residential market. "Our state benefits from a diversified and integrated solar industry that provides jobs in installation, manufacturing, distribution, engineering, marketing, sales, finance, software development, consulting, and education. Such economic diversity provides resilience from potential market disturbance from external forces." Allison Arnold, Executive Director of Solar Installers of Washington ( SIW press release) An important detail in this tariff decision is that it provides an exemption for the first 2.5 gigawatts of solar cells imported to the United States. While this tariff does not currently have an exemption for imports from NAFTA countries (including Canada and Mexico), these negotiations are sure to continue. Industry experts have suggested that the first 2.5 GW of solar cells should carry current U.S. manufacturing facilities through to at least one year from today, further marginalizing the impact on American manufacturers. The vast majority of solar module manufacturers purchase cells on the open market, due to a limited handful of cell manufacturers worldwide. Locally, it looks as though prices will stabilize at 2017 levels for the foreseeable future. With incentive rates stepping down in July 2018, it would be prudent to start planning your solar installation, if it has been a consideration for your home or business. If you would like to support the long-term viability of solar in Washington State, please consider contacting your legislators in support of the Solar Fairness Act (SB 6081). This act would increase the floor to which utilities must offer net metering for new solar customers, allocate any excess net metered credits to low income relief, and adjust the net metering true-up date to better reflect annual production capacity in Washington's market.
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