now would be a good time to buy solar panels

[Bullwinkle]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18112983

"The US has said it will impose tariffs of about 30% on imports of solar panels from China."

[Ryan.]

I agree, it is a good time. We recently purchased a roof full of panels for a price I could not have come close to just a year or so ago. I've heard prices are down 40%. Our installer told us he expects the prices to rebound soon due to the tariffs. Seems to be a great time to invest.

[terracore]

That is ridiculous. Everything from China is cheaper and they pick the one item that can actually help the planet to put a tariff on?

[Kelena]

At times like this I think of John Kennedy and his admonition that we ask ourselves what we can do for the good of the country. He meant this country. So this presents a dilemma: Buy cheaper Chinese panels now, help ourselves individually, while making it less likely that homegrown solar panel manufacturers can compete, or buy American and help our homegrown manufacturers.

The latter is a better choice for the country, but may cost the individual more in the short run. Leasing is a good idea, too I think. Them maybe in a few years with appropriate policies, we will have a homegrown solar industry, just the way we are now making television sets here ("Elements" television company).

But for "free market" nuttery, we would have supported this industry and imposed a tariff long ago. I think the proper order is this: 1) Impose tariff, 2) Support the industry, just the way we provide billions to the oil companies in subsidies.

[PaulW]

I'd rather do what's better for the whole world instead of just one country. What if everyone acted like that?
Then you get tariff wars and everything costs more than it should. Everyone loses.

If you want to buy overpriced local solar panels, you are free to do so. No need to impose your choice on others.

[Guest]

Obama pumped Billions of tax payer dollars into the countries green energy companies and lost it all. We can't compete with China because its nearly impossible to run a business in this country. If we stopped trying to subsidize everything and let the free market do its work, we would have cheap energy. Unfortunately thats not what the politicians want for you, how are they going to line their pockets? Do the selfish thing and stop trying to plan everything for everyone and we would all be better off.

“Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms.”
-Ron Paul

[SBH]

quote:

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Originally posted by terracore

That is ridiculous. Everything from China is cheaper and they pick the one item that can actually help the planet to put a tariff on?

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Unlike the US, China has been heavily subsidising the photovoltaic industry so Chinese solar panels are much cheaper than USA made modules. It's such a large investment to install PV's people have been buying the cheapest ones available, made in China. This is causing some US manufacturers to go out of business.

[terracore]

quote:

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Originally posted by SBH

quote:

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Originally posted by terracore

That is ridiculous. Everything from China is cheaper and they pick the one item that can actually help the planet to put a tariff on?

---

Unlike the US, China has been heavily subsidising the photovoltaic industry so Chinese solar panels are much cheaper than USA made modules. It's such a large investment to install PV's people have been buying the cheapest ones available, made in China. This is causing some US manufacturers to go out of business.

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Actually, I thought all the Chinese solar panels were US company origin, forced out to source out to China because it was the only way to bring affordable product back to our own country. Not due to labor laws but everything else.

[Guest]

China is amazing and in many ways we should be jealous as they take over as the preeminent industrial power and their people rise out of poverty at a record rate. Just get on skype, you can talk with them. They want to talk to you, billions of them. They have multiple factories for everything, they make all things at all levels of price and quality.

“Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms.”
-Ron Paul

[terracore]

Anybody ever consider this: http://www.bloomenergy.com/

In a nutshell, its a new type of fuel cell that can run on many different types of fuel. Production models produce electricity at 1/2 the cost of grid prices in California using natural gas.

The only downfall I see is that they are designed to power huge buildings (or 160 homes). Google saved $100,000 in electricity costs in only 9 months using them.

You can either buy them or they install them and sell you the electricity. Seems like a subdivision could buy one and be free from Helco.