The coronavirus crisis could put 35,000 wind energy jobs at risk, and put 25 gigawatts of wind projects, representing $35 billion in investment, in jeopardy, according to an initial estimate from the American Wind Energy Association.
AWEA joined several other clean-energy trade groups last week in calling on Congress for emergency provisions to help compensate for slowdowns in the construction of new projects during the coronavirus outbreak.
“As you consider emergency measures to mitigate the economic harm from the spread of the coronavirus, Americans for Free Trade urges you to consider taking swift action on a policy that
would provide tax relief to millions of American farmers, manufacturers, families, and consumers without having to wait on action from Congress: suspending the additional tariffs
placed on certain imports under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act,” stated the numerous groups in the letter.
“These tariffs are taxes that Americans pay. According to research by Trade Partnership Worldwide LLC, suspending the Section 301 and 232 tariffs currently imposed on imports from China, and China’s associated retaliation, would provide a boost to the U.S. economy of over $75 billion, or 0.4 percent of U.S. GDP, returning
discretionary income to families, encouraging capital expenditures by private companies, and instilling market confidence in decisive action to address the current economic situation. Moreover, as a set of policies that were implemented using executive authority, suspending these tariffs can be taken quickly and decisively by your Administration without further authorization steps from Congress.”
Source: AWEA