Marketplace · Thursday, September 10, 2026
The US solar industry is experiencing uncertainty due to fluctuating government policies aimed at boosting domestic production, including tax credits and new tariffs on imported materials like polysilicon. Companies like Q cells, which has invested heavily in US-based manufacturing, are navigating these policy shifts, which contrast between 'carrot' and 'stick' approaches from different administrations.
“The Trump administration plans to impose new tariffs on polysilicon, that's a key ingredient in solar panels, beginning later this year.”
“The Biden administration took a carrot approach with tax credits that favored US-made panels. Q cells has said those incentives were a major reason they started building their Cartersville plant.”
“The Trump administration is taking a stick approach, imposing new tariffs and blocking Chinese solar panels from what tax credits remain.”
“For any business, including the energy industry, they like consistency, they like predictability.”