DOE-backed solar company lays off 2000

Washington Examiner ^ | 4/17/12 | Joel Gehrke Commentary Staff Writer

[Nachum]

First Solar, a solar energy company that received a $1.46 billion loan guarantee from the Department of Energy, announced today that it will layoff 2,000 workers in the United States and world-wide.

The company will "indefinitely idle" four production lines in Malaysia and shutter a plant in Germany. "These actions, combined with other personnel reductions in Europe and the U.S., will reduce First Solar's global workforce by approximately 2,000 positions, about 30 percent of the total," First Solar announced today.

"After a thorough analysis, it is clear the European market has deteriorated to the extent that our operations there are no longer economically sustainable, and maintaining those operations is not in the best long-term interest of our stakeholders," said Mike Ahearn, Chairman and Interim CEO of First Solar, in a statement.

In December, First Solar laid off 100 employees at a Santa Clara , Calif., plant. The DOE has committed $1.46 billion to a project in Riverside County, California expected to create 15 permanent jobs and 550 construction jobs.

[Nachum]

Obamanomics

[Nachum]

The list, Ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[Third Person]

Taxpayer-funded Obamanomics.

[FrankR]

Solar, wind, algea...all spitballs being thrown at the oil and energy companies to try and make them look bad for "damaging the environment".

Little solar cells are great for 5-dollar calculators and little lights to line your sidewalk, but they aren't going to keep your food cold, your water hot, or your house lit at night, not for the long term anyway.

Wind...well the windmills are expensive, noisy and tend to kill birds and catch on fire.

Algae...years off, if ever; an obama wet-dream.

The left doesn't want America to have any kind of dependable energy, they just want to take down "big oil" and take control of all energy, whether it's oil, coal, and even hydroelectric dams.

The politics of envy has the small-minded all stirred up as they demonstrate what makes them small-minded in the first place - ignorance.

But just for grins, let's say that the obama league succeeds in destroying those industries, just for grins. Will the "producers" in this country be expected to chop firewood for the liberals? How about tending their horses for them?

Do you know a liberal who isn't too lazy to build a fire, heat his well-water in a pot, or who knows how to light a lantern?

The left has the well-earned reputation of producing "unintended consequences" and they seem to be too stupid to see past tomorrow.

Let's say they succeed in killing the Constitution; with it, there goes all freedoms of speech, press, and religion. There also goes any written law declaring or protecting civil rights.

It will come down to the leader to be the supreme being and decide all things, and with his record of pouting and temper tantrums, woe be unto those who cross him.

He's all for the black people now, as they are helping him reach the goals he wants, but if he establishs that dominance, he'd best read a history book on black-on-black crime. When there is no common enemy, they will turn on each other.

Solar and wind are the left's fairy tale for lasting and dependable energy, based on two factors - nighttime, and calm days. No light, no energy - when do you need energy the most? Why, at night. Batteries, you say? They need carging, and a week of gray or rainy skies in winter are going to do little for that.

Look how UNpopular the Volt is...because people can't depend on that battery power. Batteries explode, batteries catch fire...in computers, cellphones and in obama's follymobile.

Solar and Wind should stay on the fringe until it is totally perfected and is able to replace other sources of energy. We have all the oil, coal, and gas we need for hundreds of years, and America's air is probably the cleanest in the world.

The "alternate energy" sources are just another pie in the sky for the lefties as they soar off on another crack trip, and they are not ready for prime time...just like our current PRESS_ident.

[lowbridge]

Bump

[MHGinTN]

The democrat party now lead by commies and thugs is working to supplant the Constitutional Republic with a federal oligarchy, and with the voter fraud the democrats have refined it is they who will be the perpetual heads of said oligarchy. And feckless Republicans that do see it coming are just ‘sniveling before Zod’ in hopes of getting a share the elitist positions.

[lowbridge]

Bump

[varon]

First Solar, a solar energy company that received a $1.46 billion loan guarantee from the Department of Energy, announced today that it will layoff 2,000 workers in the United States and world-wide.

Will that delay the conversion of our ICBMs from solid fuel propellant to battery power?

[Vaduz]

Our operations are not economically sustainable.

Obamanomics indeed.

[freekitty]

Geez, they have a lot of money laundering companies.

[Vaduz]

Our operations are not economically sustainable.

Obamanomics indeed.

[upchuck]

Solar has its place, no doubt.

But it will never be a meaningful contributor to electricity generation in the US for two reasons. And this applies to wind power as well.

1. The power is not consistent. If the sun isn't shining (cloudy days and at night), or the wind isn't blowing, no power.

2. There is no economical way to store the generated electricity.

An example of intelligent solar power use: Near my house there is an unexpected very sharp turn in the road. Signs announcing this turn have been mounted near the road. The signs have flashing yellow lights powered by solar panels mounted on top of the signs. That makes sense. But even so, the signs need a rechargeable battery so the lights can flash at night.

[Red Badger]

Obamanomics meets REALITY.............yet these clowns STILL preach SOLAR, WIND, ALGAE and other pie-in-the-sky crappola schemes as the ‘future’ of energy independence for America.........They are beyond stupid.........

[I am Richard Brandon]

OK! I get it - solar power has problems. But what are those problems?

Technology not cheap enough - yet?
Foreign competition cheaper?
US technology not up to snuff?
US management all dumb Democrats?
Vile, evil Republican saboteurs?

[Lurker]

The DOE has committed $1.46 billion to a project in Riverside County, California expected to create 15 permanent jobs and 550 construction jobs.

Or $2,195,488.72 per job.