U.S. assembled module prices steady at $0.30/W

Prices for solar panels made in the U.S. have leveled off at about 30 cents per watt, according to industry data. This is the panel-making side of the solar market, not something you shop for directly, but it affects the cost and availability of panels installers offer.

Part of the story is a federal rule tied to last year's tax law, which blocks the 30% federal solar tax credit for any project using equipment tied too closely to Chinese ownership. In response, several Chinese-owned factories in the U.S. — in Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Ohio — sold off enough of their stakes to avoid that label. Analysts note the original Chinese companies often still supply materials or license the brand to these newly sold facilities, so the change in ownership doesn't fully erase the Chinese-made components underneath. A separate trade case filed in June targets solar cells and panels from South Korea, arguing they rely on Chinese materials to get around existing trade penalties. If regulators take up the case, new duties could show up between September 2026 and early 2027, which could raise costs for some panel brands.

None of this requires homeowners to do anything right now. But if you're planning a solar installation, it's worth asking your installer whether the panels they quote qualify for the federal tax credit, since the ownership rules get stricter in 2027, and worth knowing that panel pricing and brand availability may keep shifting as these trade and ownership issues play out.