Rising panel costs hit solar power as electric-rate hikes boost appeal
In recent weeks and months, a U.S. Commerce Department investigation has short-circuited a key supply source of solar panels from Asia, and one major supplier to the United States, LG Electronics, has exited the market, citing increased costs. The Commerce Department probe, looking at whether Chinese solar panel producers circumvented U.S. tariffs by shipping products through four other Southeast Asian countries, has reduced availability across the U.S. and led commercial solar firms to delay big projects.