GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Georgia Public Service Commissioner Statement on Imposition of Tariffs on Solar Cell Imports: "Disappointed with President's Decision"

McDonald Statement on Imposition of Tariffs on Solar Cell Imports

"Disappointed with President's Decision"

Georgia Public Service Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald says he is disappointed with President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 30 percent tariff on imported solar panels, the result of an International Trade Commission (ITC) decision in a case filed by Georgia-based Suniva. The tariff will take effect on February 6, 2018.

"Even though I was the first statewide elected official to support President Trump and have been supportive of the President so far, I am disappointed in his decision," said McDonald.  "These tariffs will increase the price of the solar panels. Where there is increased price there is lower demand and lower demand means fewer installations and fewer jobs."  McDonald was one of a handful of state utility regulators who testified in opposition to the tariffs during the ITC hearing in August 2017 in Washington, D.C.

His remarks before the ITC are posted at: http://cms.psc.state.ga.us/site/assets/files/3037/commissioner_mcdonald_suniva_hearing_address_8_11_17.pdf 

McDonald noted that he and his other colleagues on the Commission have been proactive in growing renewable energy use in Georgia with an impressive growth in solar energy, mainly at the state's five major military installations and in utility scale and community solar. This has been done below or at avoided cost, which is paying for the least cost energy supply and with no state subsidies and mandates.

"Though the decision is disappointing, there is some light at the end of the tunnel," McDonald noted, as the 30 percent tariff will reduce by 5 percent each year for the next four years, with a final tariff of 15 percent.

Commissioner McDonald is in his third term on the Commission, having been appointed and then elected in 1998, and re-elected in 2008 and 2014. His full biography can be found at http://www.psc.state.ga.us/content.aspx?c=/commissioners/lauren-mcdonald-jr/?tab=2.

The Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member constitutional agency that exercises its authority and influence to ensure that consumers receive safe, reliable, and reasonably-priced telecommunications, electric and natural gas service from financially viable and technically competent companies. For more information on the Commission visit our web site at www.psc.state.ga.us .

Bill Edge
Public Information Officer
Georgia Public Service Commission
404-656-2316 -office
1-800-283-5813-statewide toll free
E-mail: bille@psc.state.ga.us