The Short and Long-Term Effects of Trump’s Solar Panel Tariffs on Idaho Solar Customers
You may have read the “doomsday” articles back in February 2018 describing a cloudy future for the solar industry. Headlines recounted the “billions” of shelved U.S. solar projects due to the tariffs, or the “scramble” within the solar industry to finish projects ahead of the tariff deadline. There were some good reasons for these dire warnings. Just as the 2018 tariff on foreign-manufactured solar panels was set to go into effect, the federal solar Investment Tax Credit was also starting to sunset, and the price of solar PV was on a continued decline, signaling that solar was gaining parity in the energy market. However, even with higher panel prices, declining tax credits, and cheaper electricity costs, the solar industry is starting to see clearer skies up ahead, at least in the short-term. So what does this mean for solar Boise customers or the future of Idaho solar power in general? According to the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), the tariffs are ...