Evergreen Solar to Relocate Assembly Plant in China

Evergreen Solar has let the Commonwealth of Massachusetts know that they intend to relocate their assembly plant to Wahan, China. Company officals were honest by saying it will be much cheaper in China to build the solar panel than at their present assembly location in Devens.

A little over a year ago they received $58.6 million in aid from the state in grants, loans, and land to locate the plant in Devens. The companies headquarters and R&D Center is based in Marlboro. Officials say that equal to at least half of the 577 full-time employees and 230 contract workers at the Devens plant will be effected in some way. The Devens plant makes the Silicone Wafers and cells for the assembly of solar panels. Those items will still be made there, then shipped to China for panel assembly, then shipped back.

They expect to pay about $1.50 per watt in China to assemble the panels; far less than at Devens. Officials said in part "Devens will continue to be our US Manufacturing location for wafer and cell production, and our staffing plans will remain well within the employment committment we made to the state when we first announced our plans to build the Devens facility."

My opinion; we got screwed. Massachusetts gave them money for locating here in Devens and they collected and screwed. The money should be returned. Then go 100% with no ties at all. Thats as bad as the banks and car companies taking Stimulus money and handing it out in bonuses or not paying it back at all. This is another reason not to vote for the Bozo's in Boston.