President Donald Trump’s attempt to create U.S. jobs by taxing solar panel imports could backfire.
That’s according to the CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association trade group, who says it’s domestic workers that will feel the pain.
“We have been the fastest growing form of new energy...and this is putting the brakes on that crazy growth,” Abigail Ross Hopper told Cheddar in an interview. “These are not people who are looking for what nationality the company they work for is. They just want to feed their families and pay their mortgages. And those are the people whose jobs are at risk.”
Earlier this week President Trump signed a law that would impose a 30 percent tariff on imported solar panel and sells, a move the administration says will encourage domestic manufacturing.
But the SEIA says the vast majority of the 260,000 Americans employed in the industry work in peripheral industries like installation. Ross Hopper says the bill will result in 23,000 layoffs this year and delay or cancel billions of dollars of investment in the sector.
She also says it might dissuade U.S. consumers from going green.
“Most [businesses and consumers] want to choose solar because it saves them money,” she said. “This decision changes that calculus.”
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/solar-power-in-america).
Columnist and political analyst Jonathan Harris provided a full recap of Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate.
The U.S. military has grounded its fleet of Osprey V-22 aircraft a week after a deadly crash off the coast of Japan.
But even as he lashed Republicans for their stance, Biden stressed that he is willing to “make significant compromises on the border,” if that’s what it takes to get the package through Congress.
The four Republican presidential candidates debating Wednesday night mostly targeted each other instead of Donald Trump. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley took the brunt of the attacks as she gets more interest from donors and voters.
Word about McCarthy's future had been expected the approach of the filing deadline to seek reelection. His departure will leave the already paper-thin House GOP majority even tighter, with just a few seats to spare.
Russian President Vladimir Putin began a rare overseas trip that will include a meeting with Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
The State Department said Tuesday that Russia rejected its proposed offer to release detained Americans Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich.
The Justice Department has announced war crime charges against four Russian nationals in connection with the invasion of Ukraine.
Iran said it sent a capsule that is capable of carrying animals into space.
The Senate has confirmed the promotions of hundreds of military officers after Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville dropped his months-long hold over the process.
