BP Solar Cuts Jobs, Moves Manufacturing to China.

[NNadir]

BP Solar recently announced that it is going to shut down its Maryland manufacturing facility in a move to lower costs. According to a release from BP Solar, "The company has ceased silicon casting, wafering, and cell manufacturing at its Frederick, Maryland facility. Approximately 320 great paying positions will be eliminated out of 430 positions at the Frederick location. BP Solar will maintain its U.S. presence in sales and marketing, research and technology, project development, as well as key business support activities."

To that I ask, what about building stuff in the USA? Are we that cost noncompetitive as a country that we can't keep the jobs here vs. China?

"This was a difficult decision and we deeply regret the impact it will have on our employees and the community. We have a long history in Frederick and I am thankful for the support of all our colleagues, the community and local, state and federal officials," said Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar.

All laid off employees will only get full pay and benefits for three months with a severance package, job placement assistance, and transitional resources.

"Solar prices declined between 40 and 50% since the onset of the financial and economic crisis, compressing industry margins and driving solar power towards grid competitive pricing," Fezzani said. "By shifting our supply to a high quality, low cost supply base to serve both distribution customers and large scale projects, we have strengthened our position as a provider of competitive solar solutions with our offer of the highest lifetime value."

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/bp-solar-jobs-460710">BP solar

Actually the "grid parity" claim is rather like the, um, "Beyond Petroleum" claim.

According to SolarBuzz the price of residential electricity as of last month, http://www.solarbuzz.com/SolarPrices.htm">34.64 cents per kwh was about 3 times larger than http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_3.html">average grid prices in the United States

Now that BP can gain nothing from its Amory Lovins inspired "environmental" oil company, claim, ("Beyond Petroleum") the solar business, which was all about marketing and nothing about energy has lost its usefulness.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. As I suspected, the "green jobs" that would be the wave of the future

here in the US can be outsourced. What made people think that this would not happen?

I loved the quote "We have a long history in Frederick and I am thankful for the support of all our colleagues, the community and local, state and federal officials". They are not that thankful, are they? And I would be willing to bet that what they are thankful for is all the tax abatements that they were probably given. At least, that is the case with every business that locates in my area. Damn them.

[Bonhomme Richard]

2. "I am thankful for the support of all our........

colleagues, the community and local, state and federal officials,"
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Fuck you.

[Nihil]

3. Oops ... has this year's All-American love for BP had a misfire?

"Let's destroy those BP bastards!"

"Nationalize the sons of bitches!"

"Boycott anything with the BP brand!"

Nah, I'm sure that BP Solar's management recognise that the subtly discerning
and intelligent American public wouldn't affect *their* projections adversely ...
oh, wait ...

:eyes:

[The Croquist]

4. Nah, they just want to outsource their pollution

It's the American (and EU) way. Who cares how much CO2 is created in China or in shipping it here? As long as it reduces OUR CO2 it deserves a subsidy!

[jpak]

7. Why worry about CO2? Global warming is a fraud

yup

:evilfgrin:

[Ready4Change]

5. About the Frederick plant

"This was a difficult decision and we deeply regret the impact it will have on our employees and the community. We have a long history in Frederick and I am thankful for the support of all our colleagues, the community and local, state and federal officials," said Reyad Fezzani, CEO of BP Solar.

The facility in question was originally built and operated by Solarex in the late 70's. It's a bit of a local landmark, as it has a huge solar roof visible from I-70, a major highway. As a kid I always checked it out as we passed on family trips, and later I often used it as a landmark while flying private planes out of Frederick Municipal Airport. (FDK)

BP only got in there when it bought up Amoco in 1999. I bolded part of the quote above because I think BP claiming a 'long history' with Frederick is a bit misleading.

It's also odd that it's shutting down the plant, as it spent a lot of money building more facilities at the site within the last few years. I've watched it's new buildings being raised and wondered what they had to do with building solar panels, as they just look like office buildings.

As I think about it now, I'm wondering if that isn't the real point. Frederick is a good location right now. As the economy improves (at least for corporations) Frederick provides good access to DC and major highway and rail access to other regions. The Solarex plant location is becoming good real estate. Sadly, this makes me think that it's silicon-blue roof isn't long for this world, and it will soon be replaced by yet another cookie cutter office building.

:(

[phantom power]

6. stimulus fail

[jpak]

8. Yeah and when Toshiba bought Westinghouse, they outsourced US nuclear jobs to Japan

but who's counting anyway