SunCast 812: The Real Cost of Tariffs: What’s Stalling U.S. Solar Deployment | Andrew Birch & Kerim Baran
May 8, 2025
Join Andrew Birch, founder of Open Solar and a longtime advocate for the solar industry, and Kerim Baran, a clean energy champion, as they tackle the real costs of solar tariffs stalling deployment in the U.S. They discuss why Americans pay significantly more for solar installations and how bureaucracy and trade policies are impeding progress. Learn about smarter permitting solutions, the success of Australia’s solar market, and hear intriguing insights on how tariffs hinder innovation and job creation in the industry.
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Tariffs Inflate U.S. Solar Costs
- U.S. solar costs are inflated by tariffs and bureaucracy, with American consumers paying about $3.70 per watt installed while panels cost just 10 cents.
- The largest part of the cost is "paperwork" and inefficiencies, not the solar technology itself.
Solar Jobs Mostly in Deployment
- Most U.S. solar jobs are in sales and installation, not in manufacturing.
- Low-cost panels made abroad combined with streamlined installation create more jobs and economic growth than protecting manufacturing alone.
Australia's Solar Cost Advantage
- Australia achieves $1-$1.50 per watt installations due to simple permitting and acceptance of low panel costs.
- Removing U.S. permitting red tape could boost deployment from under 5% to Australia's 33% of residential penetration.