Climate Changed
Even as Trump's Tariffs Crimp Growth, Solar Jobs Are Rising
- Solar in growth mode and tariffs not as onerous as feared
- ‘Didn’t get the worst-case scenario’ with four-year duration
Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
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After all the dire warnings that Donald Trump’s solar tariffs would be a job killer, it’s possible that employment may tick up this year.
A solar trade group had warned that tens of thousands of jobs would be lost if Trump decided to impose tariffs on imported solar equipment, which he did in January. While 2018 is unlikely to be a banner year for the U.S. industry, solar proponents now say the number of new jobs could inch past a 2016 record. The reasons: The industry is still in growth mode, the tariffs weren’t as onerous as feared and developers hoarded panels. The tariffs will last only four years, will gradually decline in each of the last three and there are exceptions to them.