BP closing Maryland solar manufacturing plant
03/26/2010
(The Washington Post)
BP will close its solar-panel manufacturing plant in Frederick, the final step in moving its solar business out of the United States to facilities in China, India and other countries. Just 3 1/2 years ago, in an announcement widely hailed by Maryland officials and promoters of "green jobs," BP unveiled a $70 million plan to double output at the facility and erected a building to house the production lines. The company said it would lay off 320 workers and keep only a hundred people involved in research, sales and project development. The company said in a news release that by closing down high-cost manufacturing locations, BP slashed unit costs by more than 45 percent.
