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).
The report by Deutsche Bank proposed a 5% daily tax on each employee that continues to work from home.
California Rep. Ami Bera joined Cheddar to discuss what a transition to the Biden administration could look like for Americans in regards to the coronavirus pandemic. Bera also discusses how a Biden administration will tackle COVID-19 with science.
The Oregon ballot measure permits licensed service providers to administer psilocybin for mental health purposes to those 21 or older, but they don't need to have a medical background or be otherwise credentialed to get certified.
State officials and election experts say the 2020 election unfolded smoothly across the country and without any widespread irregularities.
Ingmar Rentzhog, CEO and founder of We Don't Have Time, joined Cheddar to discuss the difference going forward in climate policy with President-elect Joe Biden.
The popular video-sharing app TikTok, its future in limbo since President Donald Trump tried to shut it down earlier this fall, is asking a federal court to intervene.
Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board and former global economist at Citi, joined Cheddar to discuss the findings of a study about what is actually leading to wealth disparities between Black and white Americans.
A more conservative Supreme Court appears unwilling to do what Republicans have long desired — kill off the Affordable Care Act.
Democrats did not flip a single state legislature as of Monday after the election, and that means the majority of legislative maps will be redone by Republicans.
John Matze, CEO of Parler, says he welcomes Republicans and Democrats alike to create "discussion, debate, and discourse" on the popular "free speech social network."
