An prepared by The Brattle Group and released today finds that a 100 percent tariff on imported solar PV cells and modules from China would result in the loss of tens of thousands of US jobs three years.
According to The Brattle Group’s analysis, the imposition of tariffs will “slow the growth in domestic demand for photovoltaic systems by homeowners, commercial establishments and power producers, resulting in substantial job losses.”
The study, commissioned by the Coalition for Affordable Solar Energy (CASE), examined the impacts that imposing a 50% tariff or a 100% tariff would have on the U.S. solar industry through 2014.
According to the study, a tariff of 100% would result in:
Consumer losses between $698 million and $2,620 million.
The elimination of 16,917 to 49,589 American jobs over the next three years.
We’re not even one month into the year and we already have a for the Year’s Silliest Statistic.
In a , the U.S. Green Building Council announced its 2011 list of top 10 states for LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per capita.
The press release notes that the District of Columbia leads the nation, with more than 31 square feet of LEED-certified space per person in 2011. This caused one LEED-accredited architect on USGBC’s mailing list to remark:
Oh, and since I’m in a quibbling kind of mood, considering this organization is entirely based on the accuracy of its metrics, someone needs to remind them that DC is not a state. The disparity in its score alone should be an alarm that this is not an apples to apples comparison.
Per capita?
As far as useless statistics go, “square feet of LEED-certified space per capita” is right up there with “strip clubs per capita.”
No, I take that back. ”Strip clubs per capita” is a useful statistic for some people. It signals the opportunities a might have to visit an adult entertainment establishment, if that’s his or her thing.
But “square feet of LEED-certified space per capita?” I am willing to bet you’ll never hear a tourist say, “A few friends and I are going to Washington, DC next weekend, and I hear that the nation’s capital has the most square feet of LEED-certified space per capita in the US. I can’t wait to check out some green buildings while I’m in town.”
Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair of the USGBC provides his explanation for one of the year’s silliest statistics: “Looking past the bricks and mortar, people are at the heart of what buildings are all about. Examining the per capita value of LEED square footage in these states allows us to focus on what matters most—the human element of green buildings.”
And, with that bit of bafflegab, we present the first nominee for the Year’s Silliest Statistic.
Sq. ft. of space to earn
LEED-certification in 2011