Company says it’s being undercut by foreign goods; industry argues consumers, workers will pay

Afederal commission is expected to decide this week whether to proceed with a case that could lead to tariffs on imported solar cells. The tariffs would make solar panels more expensive and hurt the industry, says Solar Energy Industries Association CEO Abigail Ross Hopper, who is leading the solar industry in the case.

The U.S. International Trade Commission will vote Sept. 22 on whether companies Suniva and Solarworld were hurt by imports of solar cells, which are assembled to create solar panels.

If commissioners find in the two companies’ favor, Hopper says a remedy recommendation will be made before President Donald Trump makes the final decision. The requested tariffs on these imported cells would double the price of solar panels, halve the demand and cause 88,000 people to lose their jobs nationwide, Hopper said.

About 2,000 jobs in Nevada alone could be lost as a result of the tariffs, Hopper said. The state’s solar industry has been ramping up since the passage of legislation to restore credits for power customers whose solar panels send excess energy to the grid.

“The Nevada solar industry has had a tumultuous two years and finally has some certainty. The future looks bright for solar here in this great state,” Hopper said. “This, without a doubt, creates lots of uncertainty about the future of that market. All the hard work that the Legislature just did and the governor did and the commission did to create a sustainable and clear path for residential solar could be put at risk if these tariffs are put in place.”

The case was heard Aug. 15, with both sides presenting testimony. Juergen Stein, CEO of Solarworld Americas, said the company needed the commission’s help to save U.S. solar manufacturing.