(AMES, Iowa) The President of an Ames solar company doubts a tariff on imported solar panels will elevate the U-S industry to the level of its' foreign competitors.
Dan Stieler is President of Power Film Solar in Ames. He says since the U-S accounts for only about 10-percent of the world market for solar.
He tells WHO Radio News he doubts the tariff will create much of an impact on global prices for solar panels. He also says solar companies thinking about expansion, based on greater domestic demand for solar panels will have to be careful about making that investment, given that the tariff will taper down over the next five years.
Stieler says solar tends to be slow-growing, and must be priced right to compete with other energy sources. He notes last year was big for solar panel installation because of fears a tax credit would disappear.
Power Film Solar does not directly make solar panels. The company makes flexible, durable solar "film" used in a variety of industrial, military, and consumer products. The company began 30-years ago at 3M and incubated at Iowa State University's Micro-electronic Research center. The company has 36-employees and is housed in a 77-thousand square foot facility in Ames.
U.S Energy Secretary Rick Perry is announcing a three-million "prize" to jump-start U-S Solar Manufacturing. The news follows the White House announcement this week that a 30-percent tariff is being added to foreign-made solar panels.
The Trump Administration announced a four-year tariff schedule, 30-percent the first year, then dropping by five percentage points each subsequent year, until it gets to 15-percent the final year.
American solar manufacturers have complained that China has unfairly subsidized its own solar production, and has flooded the global market with cheaper products.