Domestic panels

Most experts agree that the US needs to upgrade the infrastructure and that is needed whether there are green jobs or not. Those who push for green jobs include infrastructure in their predictions as to how many new jobs will be created by going green. In fact there are 250,000 jobs in the solar industry and 50,000 jobs in wind. 15 million solar panels were made in the USA last year and that works out to 6 panels per person per year. These people must have other responsibilities besides making panels. The US installed 40 million panels in 2020 so 62% were imported. Imports are expected to decline since Trump placed a 30% import tax on panels. Environmental groups predict that going green will create 9 million jobs each year over the next ten years. Some feel that number is too high but the point is that a story line is being created to suggest that these jobs are going to be in building wind mills and solar panels. This reinforces the belief that many have that wind and solar can replace fossil fuels and no one is challenging that belief. As things stand now even if the US starts to make more panels they will still be relying on China for the rare earth metals. China controls 93% of the world market in rare earths and will likely raise the price as the US taxes their panels. The US must start mining rare earths if they expect to make panels. If scientist point this out the environmentalist will object. The mining can be done cleanly but it will cost. The price will make US panels even less competitive but it will provide good American jobs. The trade off for more panels made cleanly is higher price per panel.