If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
Posted on 12/05/2009 9:25:36 AM PST by earlJam
400 layoffs at Energy Conversion Devices will predominantly impact Michigan workforce By Sven Gustafson December 04, 2009, 11:59AM
Grand Rapids Press File PhotoA view inside one of two United Solar Ovonic plants in Greenville from 2007. The 400 layoffs at Energy Conversion Devices Inc., the parent company of United Solar Ovonic, will predominantly affect workers in Michigan as the rooftop solar panel maker looks to cuts costs amid slower demand.
Rochester Hills-based ECD said late Thursday it plans to cut 400 jobs, or nearly 20 percent of its 1,900-person workforce, as part of a larger restructuring plan.
The company as previously reported is laying off 80 workers at its solar panel plants in Greenville, but job cuts will also affect workers at its headquarters and plants in Auburn Hills and Tijuana, Mexico.
"The reductions happened at all of our sites," spokesman Mark Trinske said in an e-mail. "Most of our people are in Michigan, and as a result, most of the reductions were in Michigan.
"The restructuring impacted all levels of the company, including manufacturing and corporate positions, but we did not do a specific breakout."
In its release, the company attributed the layoffs in part to a previously announced restructuring related to it $16.3 million purchase of Los Angeles-based Solar integrated Technologies Inc. in July. The company said the moves are expected to save $17 million.
ECD, which makes thin-film rooftop solar panels, lost $11.8 million during its most recent quarter.
"Because we are on a 'demand-driven' expansion, when demand slowed we postponed the continued expansion of Greenville and the new development of (a factory in) Battle Creek," Trinske said. "We were left with a cost structure that was too high for the current demand outlook.
"This restructuring reduces our costs so we can compete effectively in the current market and be positioned to be successful as the market grows."
ping
Shades of corn plants!!
Not to worry.
Obama is going to give them jobs installing energy efficient light bulbs.
United Solar Ovonic wins grant for expansion in Battle Creek
By Mark Sanchez | Business Review West Mich...
October 30, 2008, 8:00AM
The Michigan Strategic Fund board approved creation of a 155-acre Renaissance Zone and approved a $10 million Community Development Block Grant to support United Solar Ovonic’s planned $220 million advanced solar-cell manufacturing facility in Battle Creek.
The Renaissance Zone designation and the CDBG money were granted a week after the Michigan Economic Growth Authority approved a state tax credit valued at $17.3 million over 17 years to encourage the company to expand in Battle Creek rather than competing sites in New York and Malaysia. Property-tax abatements worth an additional $67 million were included in the first package.
United Solar has two plants in Auburn Hills and two in Greenville that make thin-film flexible photovoltaic roofing products.
Even though solar technology has really come a long way and is becoming viable, the Democrats destruction of the economy will stop or at least significantly slow the advance of alternative energy.
Everybody's going into survival mode thanks to oppressive taxes and environmental regulations based on pseudoscience like GW.
The Dims are shooting themselves in the foot.
Viability does not translate to efficient. At best, a PV cell will produce 75-80% of their rated production, AT NOON ON A CLEAR DAY. From sun up to sun down, the power production is on a slide up and down. At dusk, it ceases to produce. To power an average home, you would need about twice the roof space, and lots and lots of batteries. Add that to inefficiency of conversion from DC to AC, and the cost increases more. The only viable use of PV is for a cabin 20 miles from a power line. There is no pay back in the near future, unless electric utility fees "necessarily will skyrocket". Solar hot water is a different story.
But, with coal, gas, oil, or nuclear heat plants, turbines can generate 24/7 and increase or decrease on demand. I am a proponent of all the above. In addition, we can have enough cheap fuel to drive our hot rods and big boats. This is America.
Our problems in our economy and in our country would be best served by firing the EPA, and cutting loose the entrepreneurs to re-power us from within. We could climb back to top of the Wprld heap pretty quick. This is still America...
If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
Is Al Gore losing money on this collapsing scam?
Not yet.
I had a solar PV system installed. It was originally rated at 4.2KW but it was upgraded with 3 additional panels. Perhaps the rating is 4.4KW. My system has produced at 3.9KW during peak hours perhaps a little above your estimate. Because I do not use much air conditioning, I produce enough energy to power my house but the power generated does not match power usage very well. Most of the power produced is not when the power is most needed.
However, your basic points are correct. Solar PV is boutique energy. It is not economically viable for anyone on the grid. It is viable because of huge subsidies and forced higher electricity rates. A large part of the subsidy is forcing utilities to offset your PV generation. Essentially, the utility provides a no cost backup. The excess power that I generate offsets power I use when the PV does not function. Other utility users are subsidizing my boutique energy generation. I bought the system as a hedge against higher utility rates. Even with the subsidies, I am not sure that the purchase makes any sense. The Democrats will find other ways to make my pay higher electricity rates. If the grid becomes unreliable, my PV system is no use. My system shuts down during power outages.
Maybe they can look into latex, and latex related products.
Or the mass production of ketchup and mustard in the same bottle.
I think think a pizza place where you make your own pie would be great but no one ever listens.
A restaurant where they only serve peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.... call it PB and J’s.
The Michigan Strategic Fund board approved creation of a 155-acre Renaissance Zone and approved a $10 million Community Development Block Grant to support United Solar Ovonic’s planned $220 million advanced solar-cell manufacturing facility in Battle Creek.
This plant in by the way stands as an empty building, partially completed and EMPTY!!! in Battle Creek. Great use of Michigan Taxpayer dollars and Tax abatements.
Green Jobs are steaming turds!
the bottom line is that it does NOT work in Michangan anwyay. We went throught this garbage in the 80’s. Michigan does not have enough “Degree Days” (Sun Days) What a joke.
That’s a shame. I know people in Rochester, NY (2nd cloudiest city in the USA) that have solar hot water systems. I doubt PV would have any efficiency, but if the sun shines, it’ll heat water!
I feel bad for the employees and for ECD, but I’m dancing inside. I used to be employed by a company that had ECD as their largest customer. Two months after I resolved a major quality issue (at no cost since it was an ECD application issue) I was let go after 20 years.
Just started a new job out of state after a few months on vacation.
I think I’m gonna do a lap of my hotel room to celebrate the further misfortunes of my former long time employer.
What absolutely fabulous news. I see a pitchman nearly everyday urging companies to come to Michigan because of a great work force and many green firms.
There is now a new supply of experienced green workers.
Green firms should flock to Michigan with this news
I did a lot of research in the 80’s when they had the tax credits for solar. We in Mid Michigan do not have enough sunny days in the winter to make it feasable. But that was almost 30 years ago. I as a real estate appraiser have seen a lot of those solar things on houses just setting for one reason or another.
There are many reasons, but usually it is because somebody didn't do proper maintenance and they got some freeze damage.That is the most likely scenario. Newer vacuum tube units are much more effective, efficient, and resistant to damage.
TheGum't has a 30% TC right now (up to $2k max). If the sun shines, even with clouds, the sun's heat is passing through. It may just require more collection ability. I have been a solar guy since the 70's, building hoouses with both passive and active systems since the 80's. I am currently working with local BizDevelop team for start-up on a manufacturing facility in WV. Jobs, you know, are badly needed, and energy is costly and getting more expensive.
My license plate is pictured below:
Good for you.
Its about time I heard a happy story from somebody from this God forsaken sorry-assed State has ANYthing to with celebrate, dancing, and WOO-HOO!!!!, albeit, utterly dependent upon the misfortune of others; you gotta do what you gotta do, right?
Oh, wait, you’re no longer a citizen of our happy State; my bad.
Well (that notwithstanding), I’ll pray that your (and JohnQ’s) endeavors are fruitful over the coming years. May the Lord bless.
Old Lang Syne, dude...
Gotta love euphemisms. "Layoff" was originally a euphemism, as was "downsizing."
Gotta love euphemisms. "Layoff" was originally a euphemism, as was "downsizing."
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