Convolt seems to indicate they would have been able to deliver on time if panel sales hadn't plunged 50%. Wouldn't heavy tarrifs on Chinese panels make a lot of sense here then?
I understand we need expansive solar yesterday, but that's even more of a reason to ensure we have the capacity to manufacture.
Which is to say: Convolt complained about a drop in prices of 50%. Are we really willing—as a country—to double the cost of solar because our domestic companies haven't scaled up? This seems like a recipe for killing momentum around renewables.
Moreover, can you put tariffs on panels made domestically by a Chinese company? The panels aren't imported or exported.
I suppose you could tariff foreign manufactured panels and components to fund subsidies to domestic companies such that the two equalize in cost.
As I said, while we need solar yesterday, can we really afford to not have it tomorrow because we failed to create a competitive industry?
> Moreover, can you put tariffs on panels made domestically by a Chinese company? The panels aren't imported or exported.
Foreign ownership of many strategic industries are tightly controlled.