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Boston firm shifts 'green jobs' to China

By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
11/06/09 8:35 AM EST

President Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress are spending billions of tax dollars to subsidize development of "green jobs" - positions for people and companies designing and manufacturing alternative energy sources such as biomass, wind and solar.

One of Obama's buddies, Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, is also a vocal advocate of such subsidies. Last year, Patrick put Massachusetts taxpayers' money where is mouth is by backing a $58 million package of incentives and subsidies to Evergreen Solar, which manufacturers collector panels used in solar energy units.

Now barely a year later, Evergreen has announced that it is moving its final assembly phase to a factory in China, according to the Boston Globe. The firm's Devens, Massachusetts, plant currently employs 577 full-time and 230 contract workers in designing and manufacturing the silicon wafers and cells that are then assembled into panels.

A company spokesman declined to say how many jobs will be shifted to the new assembly plant in China, according to the Globe.

"In exchange for receiving $58.6 million in grants, loans, land, tax incentives, and other aid to build in Massachusetts, Evergreen pledged that it would add 350 new jobs, a goal that it has, to date, far surpassed. However, the company disclosed in a financial filing yesterday that it would write off $40 million worth of equipment at Devens because of the production shift to China," the Globe reported.

"The company has been a poster child of the Patrick administration’s efforts to develop a 'green energy' industry cluster in Massachusetts. But it has been struggling financially because of increased competition from overseas producers and rapidly falling prices for solar products. It recently persuaded the state to lend it another $5 million to cover equipment purchases, though the state has not yet released the funds," the Globe said.

Evergreen has lost at least $167 million so far in 2009, according to the Globe. Last year during the same period, the company's losses totalled only $33.6 million. Following announcement of the move to China, the company's stock closed at $1.42 per share, down six cents per share.

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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

bobc

Nov 6, 2009

This is the samething that happened in the UK! UK citizens were promised that "green jobs" would save them...then they laid them off and sent the work to China!

I ask all business leaders here,.....when will you find out, that if we do not have jobs, we cannot buy anything.

And I ask politicians, when will you finally realize, that our business owners need all tax breaks in order to keep our jobs here?

NO jobs, no revenue. NO jobs, no buying!

anne can

Nov 6, 2009

Greens have no loyalty to the USA we're the ones who ruined the globe ya know.

nell

Nov 6, 2009

but of course. Use American tax dollars to prop up a business so that they can create jobs for China. Chinese product will then be shipped to the U.S. to sell. But who has any money to buy? Oh yes, the government will subsidize the cost so that Americans can buy the product. But where will the government get such money? They will tax the business owners who in turn will decrease their costs by shipping more jobs to China. But won't that hurt the U.S. economy and future generations? Yes, but we only worry about the time between now and the next election.

jim

Nov 6, 2009

How's that hope/change working out for you Massachusetts?

Mistake08disgrace

Nov 6, 2009

I wonder if obama is counting those jobs in China as saved or created?

Walt

Nov 6, 2009

Sounds like Taxachussetts got suckered on this one. The dems will keep subsidizing this green movement until they drive us into the ground.

profoundmen

Nov 6, 2009

my city just spent $750th on 14000 90gal blue barrels, to put all recyclibles in one container,rather than the smaller ones we use now.At $55 ea,I figure that's about 14000 hrs.of police protection or...

StargazerInSavannah

Nov 7, 2009

Green jobs are a myth, just like green energy.
Green is how the "Reds" of the sixties have seized control of the economy. Green has become the edge of the sword in the destruction of this nation.
Paying a dollar for a pennies worth of anything will destroy the economy and this nation.
If you are looking for the real enemies of this nation, look first in the administration and the congress. Those that deviate from the 'free market' are the real threat to our survival.

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Boston firm shifts 'green jobs' to China

By: Mark Tapscott
Editorial Page Editor
11/06/09 8:35 AM EST