RE: Trumps 30% tariff on imported solar panels
February 1, 2018 at 4:34 pm
(This post was last modified: February 1, 2018 at 4:51 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
And lo, the sungod doth provide an example.
Jinko Solar officially announced that it would be investing in a facility in Jax, Fl. They say the plan is to invest 410million in the facility over a coarse of years, with an average wage of 46k a year. Sounds great, but that's company pr.
The truth is that the salary number is massively inflated by ceo pay. Jax has committed to providing 1/8th of the total investment upfront, just for starters (more than is required to begin operations). The state has pledged yet more. Jinko has been rushed, by an actual mob, over their dumping of toxic material into the local water supply back home. They are ranked, by a sweetheart ranking, at the very bottom end of average as far as their techs efficiency. Jinko was, as of last check, in the top two re the worlds largest suppliers of pv panels. Obviously their presence in Jax and the market will push out other operations with a better product, a better track record, or..you know, legitimate "american" cred. The worst part, is that they have no plans whatsoever to source their material from the US - that would be bad for business. They can satisfy the terms of the tariff by engaging in final assembly stateside. They intend to use their dirty panels and shitty offshore practices to prop up a state and local government fed profit spigot. I rate this no higher than simple grift, because this company produces panels that are demonstrably no greener than "beautiful clean coal" - even their pathetically substandard rating depends on completely ignoring their sourcing and manufacturing.
This is only the first example of how offshore entities will subvert the tariff to take advantage of corporate welfare while producing an inferior product here in the US to further secure the market share over their american competitors. This is the face of solar, and they clearly don't -need- the fossil fuel industry running interference to send the entire thing into the toilet.
#MAGA.
Now, if the US wanted to do some actual good for the american solar industry (and solar in general), they would set efficiency and environmental requirements - curbing the ability to outcompete based on low wage labor and bad practices, just as we insist upon a certain level of quality in a number of other consumer products, and particularly in the generation of energy. No lead paint, no dumping, no faulty reactors, etc. Fat chance for the next few years, I know. A man can dream, though.
Jinko Solar officially announced that it would be investing in a facility in Jax, Fl. They say the plan is to invest 410million in the facility over a coarse of years, with an average wage of 46k a year. Sounds great, but that's company pr.
The truth is that the salary number is massively inflated by ceo pay. Jax has committed to providing 1/8th of the total investment upfront, just for starters (more than is required to begin operations). The state has pledged yet more. Jinko has been rushed, by an actual mob, over their dumping of toxic material into the local water supply back home. They are ranked, by a sweetheart ranking, at the very bottom end of average as far as their techs efficiency. Jinko was, as of last check, in the top two re the worlds largest suppliers of pv panels. Obviously their presence in Jax and the market will push out other operations with a better product, a better track record, or..you know, legitimate "american" cred. The worst part, is that they have no plans whatsoever to source their material from the US - that would be bad for business. They can satisfy the terms of the tariff by engaging in final assembly stateside. They intend to use their dirty panels and shitty offshore practices to prop up a state and local government fed profit spigot. I rate this no higher than simple grift, because this company produces panels that are demonstrably no greener than "beautiful clean coal" - even their pathetically substandard rating depends on completely ignoring their sourcing and manufacturing.
This is only the first example of how offshore entities will subvert the tariff to take advantage of corporate welfare while producing an inferior product here in the US to further secure the market share over their american competitors. This is the face of solar, and they clearly don't -need- the fossil fuel industry running interference to send the entire thing into the toilet.
#MAGA.
Now, if the US wanted to do some actual good for the american solar industry (and solar in general), they would set efficiency and environmental requirements - curbing the ability to outcompete based on low wage labor and bad practices, just as we insist upon a certain level of quality in a number of other consumer products, and particularly in the generation of energy. No lead paint, no dumping, no faulty reactors, etc. Fat chance for the next few years, I know. A man can dream, though.
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