Bill Overview
Title: EAGLE SOLAR Act
Description: This bill modifies the Buy American Act to apply to solar power purchase agreements.
Sponsors: Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Target Audience
Population: people involved in or dependent on the solar energy industry
Estimated Size: 300000
- The bill affects those in the solar industry, including manufacturers, as it involves changes to purchase agreements for solar power, potentially increasing demand for US-made solar products.
- Consumers of solar energy might face changes in the cost or availability if solar power purchase agreements become more dependent on American-made products.
- Employees and businesses in the broader solar supply chain may experience changes in operations and demand.
Reasoning
- The population affected includes solar energy manufacturers, consumers, and workers in related supply chains.
- The budget for the policy affects its capacity to scale quickly. Manufacturing within the US may see a positive shift but could be constrained by the available capital and the industry's ability to expand production efficiently.
- Young professionals entering the solar industry may experience positive job prospects and increased job security.
- Policy impact is presumed to be direct on US solar product manufacturers and indirect on consumers with possible price shifts.
Simulated Interviews
Solar Product Manufacturer (California)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could significantly increase demand for our products, which is great for business.
- We might face initial challenges scaling up production to meet increased demand.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Solar Installer (Texas)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy should be good for job security, but I worry about potential delays if component supplies are disrupted.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Environmental Policy Analyst (New York)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a great step towards sustainability, but careful implementation is crucial.
- Potential for significant environmental benefits if executed well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Construction Worker (Ohio)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I look forward to more job opportunities as demand for solar installations increases.
- Hope the policy makes solar energy cheaper.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Civil Engineer (Florida)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The direction of this policy is exciting.
- New projects could mean more work and potentially higher wages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired Coal Industry Worker (Michigan)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m worried about these changes even though I'm no longer in the industry.
- Feel uneasy about the shift to solar, affecting traditional jobs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Solar Energy Consumer (Nevada)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this makes solar energy more mainstream and cheaper in the long run.
- I support using more American-made products.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Solar Panel Salesperson (Arizona)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act could boost our sales with more competitive products on offer.
- Concerned about keeping up with increased demand and potential supply chain hiccups.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Solar Panel Technician (Colorado)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More solar installations mean more work for us as they need regular maintenance.
- Surprised more attention to US products wasn’t earlier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Student (New Mexico)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy increases optimism about job prospects in renewable energy.
- Hope the industry grows more diverse and inclusive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 2: $1400000000 (Low: $1050000000, High: $1750000000)
Year 3: $1300000000 (Low: $1000000000, High: $1600000000)
Year 5: $1200000000 (Low: $950000000, High: $1450000000)
Year 10: $1000000000 (Low: $750000000, High: $1250000000)
Year 100: $800000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1000000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy might lead to domestic solar price increases affecting consumer adoption rates.
- The Act supports national interests by fostering domestic manufacturing.
- Environmental impacts could be positive if domestic production is more sustainably managed compared to international alternatives.