ALBANY — This week’s move by the federal government to slap higher tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels could encourage more makers to set up shop in New York and elsewhere in the U.S., but also discourage potential customers as prices rise.
“We have people on both sides of the fence on this one,” said Ron Kamen, president of the New York Solar Industries Association, which represents solar equipment makers and distributors, and businesses that install the equipment.
He said Friday that domestic solar panel makers support the tariffs, which would be raised from 31 to 210 percent after federal trade officials ruled that Chinese makers were selling panels in the U.S. below what it cost to make them. “We need to develop a sustainable domestic industry, and have a level playing field to accomplish that,” Kamen said.
But raising tariffs on imported Chinese panels will raise the prices that customers ultimately pay, which could dampen demand, something that is troubling to companies that distribute and install equipment, he said.
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