Around 24GW of planned solar capacity over the next two years is at risk of going ahead due the Biden administration’s circumvention case against solar imports from south-east Asia, according to a US trade body.
The Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) analysis cuts installation forecasts for 2022 and 2023 by 46% if tariffs are imposed.
“If tariffs are imposed, in the blink of an eye we’re going to lose 100,000 American solar workers and any hope of reaching the President’s clean energy goals,” said SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper.
“This would be a monumental loss for our nation, which has the potential to lead our clean energy future, with the right policies.
“Instead, the Commerce Department is on track to wipe out nearly half of all solar jobs and force a surrender on the President’s climate goals.”
In addition to the new analysis, SEIA has collected more than 700 survey responses to capture project-level data and the impact felt by companies.
A total of 318 projects accounting for 51GW of solar capacity and 6GWh of attached battery storage are being cancelled or delayed.
Fully $52bn of private investment is at risk, said the SEIA.
In addition, 70% of survey respondents report that at least half their solar and storage workforce is at risk and more than 200 companies report that their entire workforce is at risk.