10/19/2026
New federal tariffs hit imported solar panels December 4: a $0.38/watt floor plus a 15% tariff. Distributors expect prices near $0.50/watt.
Good news: panels are only about 12% of total system cost. On a 10 kW Central Virginia system, a $0.20/watt jump adds about $2,000, roughly 7-8% overall, not the 40% you see in headlines. https://www.virtuesolar.com/2026/10/19/solar-tariffs-panel-prices/