By Lesley Wright and John Yantis
The Arizona Republic
If you’d like to discuss energy issues, contact Court Rich, Co-Chair of Rose Law Group’s Renewable Energy Department at crich@roselawgroup.com
The West Valley’s fledgling solar industry is going through growing pains that will decide which companies will survive and which will stumble.
Solar companies are losing federal subsidies. There is more competition from companies around the globe, which has pushed down the price of solar panels. Meanwhile, a tariff on Chinese-made solar parts has hurt some solar plants and boosted others.
The changes rippling through the industry have high stakes for West Valley cities, which have aggressively courted solar companies to generate badly needed jobs.
Of the 12 metro Phoenix solar manufacturing plants that have been built since 2010, five are in the West Valley. Arizona is home to more than 265 solar companies, including 26 manufacturing plants.
The Arizona Governor’s Office of Energy Policy estimates that the 12 companies have invested $1 billion in the state and created about 2,500 jobs.
West Valley leaders say they plan to continue supporting and recruiting solar businesses even as the industry goes through some transformation.
Despite the turmoil, solar jobs are growing statewide, they say.
