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).
Ryan Merkley, Wikimedia Foundation's chief of staff, joined Cheddar to discuss how Wikipedia is combating the spread of misinformation on Election Day.
Ahead of Tuesday's election, we're breaking down the candidates proposals on the federal minimum wage, particularly as the cost of living rises.
Patagonia's J.J. Huggins discusses the retailer's plans for giving employees PTO for voting and poll work.
Jamie Richardson, vice president of burger chain White Castle, talked about responsible citizenship in providing time off for employees to vote.
With the coronavirus pandemic still raging, it is unlikely either candidate, Trump or Biden, will be able to slow down federal spending any time soon.
Issues around higher education and mounting national student loan debt are big factors voters are considering before casting a ballot for Trump or Biden.
In this Q&A series, we speak with corporate execs about their plans for Election Day. Selena Kalvaria, chief marketing officer for Away, the high-end luggage company, kicks off the series.
Kelly Mason, director of corporate communications for clothing brand Levi Strauss & Co., joined Cheddar to discuss the retailer's plans for giving employees PTO for voting and poll work.
Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump by 10 points in a head-to-head match-up, according to a new Cheddar/SurveyUSA poll.
With one day left, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden maintains a strong lead nationally over President Trump, though his margin narrowed in the final days of the race.
