China solar panel factory shut after protests

BBC News ^ | 19 September 2011 Last updated at 06:14 ET | BBC

[lwd]

A solar panel factory in eastern China has been shut down after protests by local residents over pollution fears.

Some 500 villagers staged a three-day protest following the death of large numbers of fish in a local river.

Some demonstrators broke into the plant in Zhejiang province, destroying offices and overturning company cars before being dispersed by riot police.

Tests on water samples showed high levels of fluoride, which can be toxic in high doses, officials said.

The BBC's Juliana Liu in Shanghai says the Chinese villagers see the plant's closure as a victory.

They accuse Jinko Solar, a Chinese company making solar panels for sale overseas, of dumping hazardous chemicals into the water supply, our correspondent says.

[El Cid]

hurray for ‘Green’ Technologies...

[TribalPrincess2U]

Sheesh! Is there anything the Chinese do that’s not poisonous?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Do not drink the Water...

[TribalPrincess2U]

Sorry I have to drink water so... I’m doomed.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

In Shanghai...

[pingman]

In China, after a big embarrassing spill like this, they take a CEO out and execute them. Very effective at getting regulatory compliance.

[Average Al]

How long before they poison themselves? ;-)

[TribalPrincess2U]

They keep trying.

[mylife]

Farking Hilarious!

[ken21]

and us.

[bicyclerepair]

Send in the EPA

[Neidermeyer]

I’m surprised at this .. flouride has commercial value ..

[Palter]

Chinese solar companies are taking a number on the Germans. I can see part of their abilities. Cheap labor and low pollution standards.

German Solar Firms Eclipsed by Chinese Rivals

'Green energy used to be Germany's great hope for its economic future. But now the German solar industry is in trouble amid huge losses, job cuts and the threat of bankruptcies. Chinese firms are gaining an ever greater share of the German market -- and are benefiting from German subsidies for renewable energy.'

[kevslisababy]

If only Solyndra could have held on for a couple more weeks....

[indthkr]

"Cheap labor and low pollution standards.

Apparently neither the Germans nor Solyndra have developed a defensible position wrt technology intellectual property.

If they had competative IP with a clear price /performance advantage, then the Chinese would have a much harder time just dumping cheap tech.

Otherwise, it's just the law of the jungle, and there isn't a single useful industry in Germany or the USA that the Chinese can't undercut.

(Notice I said "useful" industry, so I had to leave out Lawyering and Journalists)

[nkycincinnatikid]

Hey!
Our half billion in Solyndra stock may be bouyed by this news.

[CapnJack]

"Tests on water samples showed high levels of fluoride, which can be toxic in high doses..."

Fluoridation is a Commie plot ... Ripper was right!

[lwd]

LOL! Thanks for reminding me of that...

[Rio]

Another version of this story.

From the link above:
The Haining protests reflect the dirty side of clean energy. While use of solar power can reduce the need for burning heavily polluting coal and other fossil fuels, the process of producing photovoltaic cells uses various chemicals and materials that can also be toxic.