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).
Congressman Joe Kennedy is a democrat who represents Massachusetts fourth district. His progressive policies and famous family name have thrust him into the spotlight after he gave the Democratic Party's official response to President Trump's State of the Union Address.
On today's episode of VF Hive Kristen Scholer and Jon Kelly discuss the Parkland, Fla. shooting, John Kelly's future and Evan Spiegel's redesign.
Ashley Kurth, a teacher at Stoneman Douglas High School, says nobody should have to go through the events that transpired Wednesday in Parkland, Florida. The registered Republican says Congress needs to deal with the problem of gun laws.
Chris Whipple, author of "The Gatekeepers", told Cheddar that the former White House chief of staff says that, for every botched immigration order, he had to stop ten others that were in the pipeline. But Priebus is still in communication with the President.
Billionaire investor Peter Thiel is leaving Silicon Valley and maybe even the board of Facebook. Amazon officially surpassed Microsoft in market valuation. Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL) joins us from Capitol Hill to share his thoughts on the deadly high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Plus, we speak to the CEO of Celebrity Cruises and others for our Business of Travel show.
Kelly Macias, staff writer for Daily Kos, explains why she believes congress won't do anything about guns after the latest mass shooting in Florida. Macias also shares her thoughts on the resignation of a special assistant to President Trump after past marijuana use.
Billionaire investor Peter Thiel is leaving Silicon Valley and maybe even the board of Facebook. Amazon officially surpassed Microsoft in market valuation.
What did John Kelly know and when did he know it? Plus, the Olympic gold medal-winning snowboarder sparking controversy. A preview of the Daytona 500, and Happy Valentine's Day! With FanSided, The Root, Moët & Chandon, and Zimbio.
Save the Children CEO Carolyn Miles says that the number of children in these dangerous areas has spiked 75 percent since the early '90s. She adds that some feel as if they have no future.
Police in Florida respond to a deadly high school shooting in Parkland. Congressman Joe Kennedy talks about bringing the Democratic message to millennial voters, and President Trump's Infrastructure plan.
