In a move that will shake up the renewable energy industry, the Trump administration approved tariffs on solar equipment made abroad and imported into the U.S. Approximately 80% of solar equipment used in the U.S., including rooftop solar panels, are manufactured in foreign countries.  The majority of imports come from China. The Commerce Department approved duties starting at 30%, which gradually drop to 15% over four years, with a goal of stimulating domestic manufacturing. Domestic solar firms are praising the tariffs as a means of leveling the playing field in the industry. Others in the renewable energy industry, such as installers, fear that the increased cost of solar panels will decrease demand in the future, causing developers to walk away from current projects due to cost increases. At the end of the day, developers, designers, and contractors are most fearful of the uncertainty that comes along with the tariffs. Over the next year, it will be interesting to see if the tariffs prove to be beneficial to U.S. companies working in this sector.