Solar News This Week - August 09, 2026
New tariffs on polysilicon
The Trump administration has announced plans to implement a 15 percent tariff, as well as minimum prices on imports of polysilicon ingots, wafers, cells and solar modules. The minimum import prices have been set at $21 per kilogram for polysilicon, $100 per kilogram for polysilicon ingots and wafers, $0.22 per watt for solar cells, and $0.38 per watt for solar modules.
According to a report by Roth Capital Partners, the new tariffs and minimum prices will result in considerably higher prices for solar modules within the US. While the administration maintains that the policy is designed to incentivize domestic manufacturing, it introduces immediate cost increases across all major supply chain configurations.
For U.S. module manufacturers importing cells, Roth estimates module pricing will rise to $0.40/W (comprising $0.22/W cell cost and a $0.18/W domestic assembly cost), representing a 38 percent price increase over pre-tariff levels.
China pledges to end loss-making sales of solar products
In somewhat related news, eight of China's largest polysilicon producers have reportedly signed an industry initiative pledging not to sell photovoltaic products below their full cost, as Beijing steps up efforts to curb destructive price competition across the solar supply chain.
In early July, China introduced General Rules for the Cost Accounting Model of the Photovoltaic Industry, setting new pricing rules that instruct domestic solar manufactures to strengthen cost accounting and conduct internal compliance reviews that move the sector away from low-price competition toward quality and technology innovation.
The new rules also mandate that panels must output at least 630W and hit a minimum of 23.2 percent efficiency - effectively eliminating low-tier products from the Chinese market. The government also placed strict caps on power consumption in the manufacturing of polysilicon, germanium, and monocrystalline silicon products.
Texas becomes second state to put freeze on data centers
Amid growing public backlash to the rapid buildout of data centers across Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott last week announced a moratorium on the approval of data centers until regulatory agencies can audit projects seeking connection to the state's electric grid.
In doing so, Texas became the second state to freeze data center development. On July 14, 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order establishing a temporary one-year statewide moratorium on new, large hyperscale data centers.
Abbott asked the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to ensure data center developers provide information on tax breaks they will receive; power use and generation; water use and cooling operations; efforts to reduce impacts on local communities; and ownership of the facility. Any projects that fail the "comprehensive verification and audit" should be denied connection to the grid, the governor directed.
There is no state or federal government database of the facilities, but the Texas Tribune has identified at least 335 data centers operating in Texas. The state is currently the second largest market for the facilities in the country, behind Virginia. The Tribune noted that there were at least 248 planned data centers lined up in the power queue.
Aurora Solar launches online home solar estimates platform
Aurora Solar has announced the launch of the Aurora Solar Marketplace, an online platform where U.S. homeowners can get cost and savings estimates for rooftop solar installations and reach out for service on their existing installations.
After providing details including an address and average electricity bill, homeowners can see estimates of system size in kW, energy storage size in kWh, cost per watt, and estimated savings and payback period.
The platform joins a group of online solar quote tools like EnergySage, Electrum and SolarReviews, but the Aurora Solar marketplace claims its product is unique as a significant number of solar companies already use the company's software for design, sales and permitting workflows.
The Aurora Solar Marketplace can be accessed at https://quote.aurorasolar.com/
Ford to offer electric pickup starting at $28k
Ford announced that its first model produced on its new low-cost electric vehicle platform will be a small pickup truck called Fathom and have a starting price of $28,350.
The truck, arriving in 2027, is Ford's answer to increasing competition from Chinese competitors.
The Fathom will seat five adults and is projected to have more passenger volume than a Toyota RAV4.
The truck will also feature a large, high-resolution touchscreen, bidirectional power capability, and a front trunk, or "frunk," in addition to the pickup cargo bed. Pre-orders begin in early 2027.