Locals react to tariffs on imported solar panels

Doug Aardahl is just one of thousands of solar power customers throughout the Coachella Valley who could see their bill go up after President Trump imposed a 30% tariff on imported solar panels.

“On the outside, it sounds like it’s a pretty good deal. I think it will affect it in the short term, but in the long term we gotta have solar,” Aardahl said.

Trump imposed the tariff after Suniva and SolarWorld Americas, two U.S. based manufacturers with parent companies overseas, complained that cheap solar panel imports were putting U.S. companies out of business.

The tariff targets solar panels and certain components imported from China, a move that may be more political than economic.

“The Trump administration by taking this move really just made a political action to cow-tow to particular voters,” said Vincent Battaglia, CEO of Renova Energy, a solar energy company in Palm Desert.

Now the question is, could solar customers see an increase to their bill?

“There’s nothing to worry about. This will not create an increase in the cost of solar for companies like Renova who installed American made products,” Battaglia said.

The tariff could start a trade war between the United States and China.

Read: China blasts Trump’s new trade tariffs

“It becomes a political football, right? A tit for tat. If you’re going to create a tax embargo bringing in our products into your country well then we will do the same to you and your products,” Battaglia said.

Renewable energy faces another challenge as customers enjoy their sunny solar power.

“I just love solar, my bill is $12 now,” Aardahl said.