When the Trump administration put tariffs on imported solar panels (mainly from China), the solar power industry expected that it would suffer as a result. A recent study says the sector lost about 8,000 jobs in 2018, or a little bit more than 3 percent. Rhode Island saw a job loss of more than 5 percent over the year, although it still ranks No. 11 in the nation for solar jobs per capita, according to the Solar Foundation. The trade group sees 2019 as a year of recovery, forecasting job growth of 7 percent as well as significant growth through 2026. Were the tariffs worth the short-term pain they caused?
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