Solar panel shortage weakens growing market

Solar panels cover cars parked in a lot nearby Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. The city aims to rely largely on renewable energy by 2035.

Jaime Henry-White / AP

Before the pandemic, Georgia’s solar panel market was thriving. In light of the continued shortage, the Biden administration invoked the Defense Production Act, suspending all solar panel tariffs.

In some cases, prices of solar panels in the country have risen as much as 100%. The legislation aims to remedy the shortage and bring manufacturing jobs to the United States.

Jamie Porges, co-founder and CEO of Cobb County-based Radiance Solar, says the acute shortage of solar panels hurts the industry’s growing demand.

“The industry will be playing catch-up for the next 18 months,” he shared on Wednesday’s edition of “Closer Look.”

“We expect to be around for a while, but others won’t be.”