Trump Claims Solar Tariffs Are ‘Reopening Plants.’ They’re Not
I appropriated the headline you just read from an article in today’s GreenTechMedia.
I started to write to the editor (Stephen Lacey, whom I know well through years of interaction) and point out that these are essentially wasted words. I doubt if there is a soul who reads GreenTechMedia who believes a word that comes out of Trump’s mouth; we don’t need GTM to remind us that our president is a pathological liar.
Then I realized that the message I was going to send to Stephen applies equally well, if not better, to me and 2GreenEnergy. We do seem to have a “preaching to the choir” issue, don’t we?
Craig,
What on earth is the matter with you ? Has your obsessive hatred of the President grown to a point you would go to any lengths, even denigrate your own country, just to belittle the President ?
It’s become obvious to everyone, even his more rational opponents, the President believes his main role is to “talk Up ” American industry and business. He believes this brings hope and a positive attitude, which in turn translates into economic confidence and growth creating prosperity and employment.
Tariff protection for the ailing US industry is the administration’s method redressing the trade imbalance and providing incentives for US industry. The tariffs are relatively modest while his illusions to higher quality are mainly designed to increase a pride in “buying American Made “.
Okay, some of his speeches may be a little enthusiastic and optimistic, but why on earth would you (and other Americans) passionately attack his positive attitude ?
What’s to be gained by saying the President is a “pathological liar”, “US manufacturing is crap, and Chinese products are much better !? ” and ” show how much you hate Trump, buy Chinese not American Made” !
The President’s claims may be optimistic, but yours are unduly pessimistic and could rightly be thought influenced by lobbyists for importers of cheap Chinese Panels who have exploited the boom in Solar to make exorbitant profits, selling second rate products, at the expense of US taxpayers and consumers.
Many of these imports will become environmental toxic time bombs in a few years when disposal problems emerge.
Craig, I think there is a risk in constantly criticising the president of alienating those of his supporters who are broadly favouring sustainability, and maybe supporting him for reasons like jobs where he seems to be doing fairly well.
Is his policy bringing solar manufacturing jobs to America? Perhaps to a limited degree, or at least reducing redundancy risk at the few solar panel factories in the US.
Causing job losses? Almost certainly among installers, and in US exporters when China and others impose tariffs in Levi jeans, peanut butter, etc.
Marco, where do you get the idea that Chinese solar panel makers are making exorbitant profits? Most are making wafer thin margins, and many have made losses.
Re quality, the best Chinese are up with the best in the world, whilst there are also some second rate products getting made. (I think you recognise this point).
Re environmental toxic time bombs, what toxins? Silicon wafers and glass are inert, silver is non toxic, and encapsulant films and the plastic in junction boxes are probably no worse than all the other millions of tons of plastic currently being discarded after a single brief use for shopping bags and packaging. As for Aluminium frames, these are too valuable not to be recycled. In short, your typical solar panel has very little end of life toxicity. (There ARE toxicity issues during manufacture when silane gas is used as a precursor to silicon crystals.)
The one category of solar with a significant potential for end of life toxicity is Cadmium Telluride thin film made primarily by US firm First Solar, but even there, with its products used almost exclusively in larger commercial / utility projects, and with First Solar operating a take back and recycle programme, this should not be a problem as few if any panels will be simply dumped.
Gary: There is definitely that risk, though the intersection of environmentalists and Trump supporters is a very small set, and getting smaller every day, given Trump’s unfolding policies that are rapidly destroying our Earth, seas and skies. Almost everyone has picked one side or the other; it’s hard to imagine someone who honestly cares about sustainability lining up behinds this president.
Moreover, I wouldn’t even begin to know how to write my posts without alienating Trump supporters; I’d have to bite my tongue so often there’d be nothing left of it. 🙂