SEIA Statement on the Jobs Decline Under Solar Tariffs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, The Solar Foundation issued the National Solar Jobs Census 2018, which reports an overall decline of nearly 8,000 solar jobs nationwide compared to 2017.

After seven years of steady growth, this is the second year in a row that solar jobs have declined, which the report largely attributes to the solar tariffs that the Trump administration imposed in early 2018 and the uncertainty that solar companies faced in the lead up to this trade decision.

Following is a statement from Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA): 

“The impact these unnecessary tariffs are having on America’s economy and its workers should not be ignored. The damage, from a decline in jobs to a decline in deployment, far outweighs any potential benefits the administration intended.

“We hope this data serves as a wake-up call to the administration that the Section 201 tariffs should be reversed before any more Americans lose their jobs.

“That said, despite this adversity, the U.S. solar industry’s long-term growth trajectories remain strong. Solar is entering new markets across the country each day, delivering communities well-paying jobs and billions of dollars in economic investment each year.

“The job growth outlined in this report in 29 states, many of them emerging solar markets, is a bright spot that we can build upon with smart policies in place.”

To read The Solar Foundation’s full report and see a complete list of solar jobs by state, go to SolarJobsCensus.org.

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About SEIA®:

Celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2019, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America.  SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to build jobs and diversity, champion the use of cost-competitive solar in America, remove market barriers and educate the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

Media Contact:

Morgan Lyons, SEIA’s Senior Communications Manager, mlyons@seia.org (202) 556-2872