Federal Solar Import Tariffs

In a press release, Georgia Public Service Commissioner Lauren “Bubba” McDonald indicated his disappointment with President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 30% tariff on solar panels imported from China.

Commissioner McDonald remarked that even though he was the first statewide elected official to back President Trump and has been supportive of the President so far, he is disappointed in this particular decision. The commissioner pointed out that the new tariffs will increase the price of solar panels, thus reducing demand for new installations, which in turn will lead to fewer jobs for workers in the industry.

Nevertheless, the commissioner added that “there is some light at the end of the tunnel,” given that the 30% tariff will decline by 5% each year for the next four years, such that the final permanent tariff will be only 15%.