Bill Overview
Title: Planes Not Panels Act
Description: This bill prohibits the President from using any authority under the Defense Production Act of 1950 to make provision for purchases of or commitments to purchase solar panels.
Sponsors: Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10]
Target Audience
Population: People connected to the solar energy industry
Estimated Size: 500000
- The Planes Not Panels Act restricts the use of the Defense Production Act for the purchase of solar panels.
- The solar panel industry, including manufacturers and suppliers, will be directly affected by this legislation.
- Individuals who are employed in the solar energy sector might face uncertainty due to reduced government support.
- Consumers who rely on solar energy could be indirectly impacted by potential market changes.
- Environmental advocates and groups supporting renewable energy may see this as a setback in the transition to clean energy.
Reasoning
- This policy would mainly impact those in the solar energy industry, which includes a diverse group of individuals including manufacturers, salespersons, installers, and not-for-profit advocates.
- To represent varying impacts of the policy, 10 interviewees will include solar panel manufacturers and salespersons who might see direct effects on their employment or business, as well as consumers who might be indirectly affected.
- The population includes people from diverse geographical backgrounds within the United States, recognizing the widespread distribution of solar industry jobs across urban and rural areas.
- The budget constraints suggest a limited scope of intervention measures in initial years, focusing on strategic policy allocation.
Simulated Interviews
Solar panel installer (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could reduce demand for solar panels, impacting my job security.
- I worry that without enough government support, we might face layoffs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Solar panel manufacturer (New York)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could hit our manufacturing hard, possibly leading to plant closures.
- I'm worried about the long-term viability of the industry in the U.S. without robust support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 10 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Farmer (Texas)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might make solar panels more expensive or less accessible.
- I depend on solar for consistent power in my farming operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Environmental advocate (Colorado)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a step back for renewable energy progress.
- This could impede efforts to combat climate change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 10 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Salesperson for solar products (Florida)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The expansion in the market is promising, but policies like this could slow growth.
- I was planning to invest more in my career here, but now I'm uncertain.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 10 |
Retired, solar energy consumer (Nevada)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The upfront cost of solar is significant; help from policies can be crucial.
- Long-term savings may be affected if solar becomes pricier due to this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Local government energy planner (North Carolina)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can disrupt our long-term energy plans, which heavily rely on solar.
- We might have to reconsider our approach if solar adoption slows down.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Solar panel technician (Oregon)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A downturn in panel deployment could impact my workload and income.
- Rural areas are increasingly adopting solar, but policies like this could slow it down.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Solar energy consultant (Arizona)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could seriously affect investment in upcoming projects.
- Clients might hesitate or delay solar investments, fearing uncertain market conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 10 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 10 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 10 |
Student studying renewable energy (Ohio)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is demotivating as I begin my career in renewable energy.
- It's hard to think about fewer opportunities in a field I'm passionate about.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $1100000 (Low: $550000, High: $3300000)
Year 3: $1210000 (Low: $605000, High: $3630000)
Year 5: $1331000 (Low: $665500, High: $3993000)
Year 10: $1464100 (Low: $732050, High: $4392300)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $50000000)
Key Considerations
- The transition to renewable energy is a key government policy, and this bill may slow progress towards renewable energy goals.
- Long-term savings depend on alternative investments in other energy technologies.
- The solar industry's transition pace and the adjustment to demand changes require careful monitoring.