On the same week the Trump administration announced there would be tariffs placed on imports of solar panels, the Department of Energy announced it is holding a competition to help foster American innovation in the solar energy sector.
The department revealed the plan on its website, saying the $3 million competition is called the American Made Solar Prize.
"The United States possesses the talent, expertise, and vision to surpass the rest of the world in solar technologies and forge a new solar energy landscape around the globe," Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said.
"The American Made Solar Prize will galvanize our country's entrepreneurs, allow them to utilize technologies and innovations developed through DOE's early-stage research and development, and, ultimately, bring new American-made products to market."
The Trump administration said Monday it will slap a 30 percent tariff on imported solar cells and modules above 2.5 gigawatts.
A Bloomberg analysis concluded that the tariff could increase the cost of a solar farm by as much as 10 percent and the cost of rooftop solar units by roughly 4 percent.
The Department of Energy's solar initiative is meant to "reenergize innovation in U.S. solar manufacturing," which may end up driving down prices in the long run.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.