How Tariffs are Undermining WA’s Clean Energy Sector’s Workforce
July 2025
Why This Matters
Our state has staked its economic and climate future on being a hub for clean energy and technology. But the rising costs and uncertainty driven by tariffs and recent Federal legislation, both proposed and in place, could place thousands of local jobs, especially in rural and trade-exposed communities, at risk.
In May 2025, President Trump announced a sweeping plan to raise tariffs across a host of foreign produced goods. While there has been significant uncertainty around individual tariff levels by country of origin and product categories, the level of tariff increase will negatively impact the clean technology and energy sector. Tariffs on raw materials like steel increase the cost of construction for wind, solar, and other clean energy facilities. Tariffs on component parts impact the price of electric vehicles, batteries, and more. All of this on top of the “One Big Beautiful Bill’s” termination of clean energy project subsidies and tax credits designed to make our country competitive with foreign producers. While the stated intent is to protect and promote the American manufacturing industry, the unintended consequences are already rippling across Washington’s clean energy workforce.
Tariffs are already affecting Washington’s clean energy economy and climate goals, jeopardizing workforce pipelines, local businesses, and an equitable energy transition. We need to accelerate, not slow down our economy, access to good paying jobs, and clean technology project deployment.
Washington’s Clean Tech Sector is Feeling the Impacts
Washington State is uniquely exposed to the negative consequences of the Trump administration’s trade and clean energy policies. Our state is both a clean technology and energy leader with over 90,000 scientists, researchers, technicians and other workers based in the state; significant public and private investment in clean technology research, and nation-leading policies and tax frameworks to encourage low and net zero carbon production. As tariffs rates (both real and potential) drive up the cost for new clean energy and technology projects, local companies are having to reduce, delay, or even cancel planned projects designed to continue our state’s carbon transition.
All of these challenges result in several short- and long-term challenges to the clean technology and energy workforce including:
Workforce reductions: Trained professionals including electricians, solar technicians, EV installers, and manufacturing workers are facing furloughs and continued layoffs. Across the sector, national nonprofit E2 estimated that $22B in clean energy projects have been cancelled and 16,500 jobs have been lost nationwide.
Narrowing Early Talent Pipelines: As employers focus on maintaining financial viability, many employers will be forced to deprioritize entry-level talent programs like, making it hard for recent graduates to land jobs in the sector
Career Insecurity and sector switching: Increased volatility in the sector and hiring has the potential to blunt long-term talent acquisition – youth and young adults considering the clean technology and energy sectors may pursue sectors with less job uncertainty.
Mid-career worker transitions: Sustained political volatility in the industry is likely to drive mid-career professionals to look for employment in more stable sectors.
Geographic Disparities: When projects are cancelled in rural areas, there are fewer alternative job opportunities, resulting in longer periods of unemployment for rural workers.
Equity Impacts
Washington’s climate and economic justice goals depend on clean technology jobs being available and accessible to all. In recent years, Washington has made bold investments in clean tech training programs, especially for BIPOC workers, veterans, and people in rural communities. Programs like the Foundation for Water and Energy Education (FWEE) STEM Academies, Renewable Energy Vehicle and Infrastructure Technician Training Program (REVIT), JumpStart, and many more are critical career exploration and preparation opportunities for youth and young adults.
But when projects stall and hiring freezes hit, the workers most impacted are:
Early-career workers: Those just entering the clean technology field, some of whom were recruited through equity-driven programs, are often the most recent hires and therefore the first let go when layoffs begin. These cuts have impacts beyond the clean energy sector into the broader manufacturing and construction workforce.
Apprentices and trainees: Especially those in BIPOC, tribal, and rural communities, now face hiring freezes, stalled placements, and paused training investments.
Conclusion
The Trump administration’s renewed push for tariffs, while aimed at much-needed revitalization of American manufacturing, is creating real damage for Washington’s clean energy workforce. From project delays to hiring freezes, the ripple effects are tangible and growing.
Calls to Action: Policymakers must weigh short-term workforce and deployment needs alongside long-term manufacturing goals. Washington-based clean energy employers, trade associations, and workforce leaders must speak up:
✔️ Tell stories of local impact.
✔️ Engage in federal comment periods.
✔️ Contact your legislators to share about the negative consequences to working class families from project delays and cancellations.
✔️ Advocate for smart trade policies that build our workforce, not stall it.
✔️ Continue to participate in entry-level talent exploration and awareness programs even if your short-term hiring needs are uncertain.
✔️ Recognize that the need to prioritize climate adaptation and clean energy adoption is the most pressing strategic challenge facing our governments, companies, and communities. Failure to act, and even introduction of delays, will cause harm to infrastructure, economies, and lives.
This blog post was created in partnership with CleanTech Alliance. CleanTech Alliance represents over 1,000 member organizations spanning 17 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. The CleanTech Alliance connects the clean technology ecosystem to drive innovation, economic development, and public policy to accelerate clean technology adoption, benefiting all communities.