Press Release

Solar Tariffs and President Biden’s Climate Agenda

The Biden Administration faces a looming decision to end or extend tariffs on solar cell and module imports that are set to expire in February 2022. In a new insight, Data and Policy Analyst Tom Lee explains how these tariffs have failed to meet their intended aim and instead harmed U.S. adoption of solar.

Key points:

  • In February, the Biden Administration must either end or extend expiring tariffs on solar panel imports that former President Trump originally imposed in 2018.
  • Utility-scale bifacial solar modules are the most important for President Biden’s climate agenda because they are the most efficient and will be increasingly used in large utility-scale energy projects.
  • Despite the years of tariffs intended to boost domestic production of these utility-scale solar modules, they are still not manufactured in the United States.
  • While the tariffs have failed to spur U.S. production of these solar panels, they have raised costs for U.S. consumers, leading to lower installation and utilization—clearly contrary to the Biden Administration’s goal of expanding clean and renewable energy.

Read the analysis

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