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GE Halts Work On The U.S.'s Biggest Solar Factory To Return To The Lab

Forbes -- Faced with plummeting prices for photovoltaic modules, General Electric has stopped work on what was to be the U.S.’s largest solar factory to return to the lab to retool the cadmium-telluride thin-film technology it aims to sell to developers of solar power plants.

“Over the last six months with all the changes that have happened in the industry resulting in this 50% drop in module prices, given those dynamics we are putting our plant on pause essentially and we’re focusing our efforts on developing the next generation of cad-tel module technology so that we can reach higher efficiency levels and a more competitive cost position,” Danielle Merfeld, GE’s general manager for solar technologies, said in an interview Tuesday.

That decision will result in layoffs but Merfeld declined to say…

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Submitted Jul 04, 2012 By: GocartMozart

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,599 Points:1,607,570 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 7:22:27 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse not good for the laid off workers, but hopefully helping to keep GE from needing a bailout in the long run.
sciotosix Champion Author Dayton Posts:2,734 Points:663,950 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:00:01 PM Ignore sciotosix Report Abuse Better to get the product right before they finish the factory. Unfortunately at the loss of some jobs.
NukeAtComEd All-Star Author Milwaukee Posts:725 Points:338,520 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 8:38:35 AM Ignore NukeAtComEd Report Abuse how much money (grants, tax credits, loan guarantees) did Immelt/GE get from BarryO and the rest of the eco-nuts in the DOE/EPA cabal for this? Do you think by adding tariffs to the chinese solar panels will drop the overall cost of a project?? NO WAY - PRICES OF THE PROJECT GO UP MAKING IT LESS LIKELY!
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:8,904 Points:1,731,110 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 2:42:40 AM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse Ditto to LV_Mike1. PRC is destine to drive us out of business.
LV_Mike1 Sophomore Author Las Vegas Posts:219 Points:45,290 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:24:05 AM Ignore LV_Mike1 Report Abuse Yep! China strikes again.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,458 Points:660,250 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:21:34 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Immelt and Obama........two peas in a pod.
frostyWV Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,339 Points:519,235 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:21:18 AM Ignore frostyWV Report Abuse China undercuts us again.
MN1 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,349 Points:648,640 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:16:00 AM Ignore MN1 Report Abuse Good job Immelt. Fire the US employees and continue to move the remaining GE jobs to China.
dad2two Champion Author Dallas Posts:3,525 Points:747,370 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:14:42 AM Ignore dad2two Report Abuse I wonder how much they put into the process before they halted it.
SandeeC Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,984 Points:459,600 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:14:01 AM Ignore SandeeC Report Abuse Yeah, you said it suzmar.
hatterasjack Champion Author South Carolina Posts:1,288 Points:723,335 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:12:53 AM Ignore hatterasjack Report Abuse Makes sense to me. If a leap in solar technology is just around the corner it would be foolish to continue working on products which would be obsolete when production began.
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,211 Points:870,220 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:12:03 AM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse So called renewables are definitely not ready for prime time.
DblChek Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,341 Points:613,390 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:11:23 AM Ignore DblChek Report Abuse judgemobile...I think I heard it, too.
dancygreen Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,053 Points:482,935 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:08:37 AM Ignore dancygreen Report Abuse ok
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,295 Points:479,190 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:07:39 AM Ignore millerin Report Abuse hmm...
Buffalo Joe Champion Author Alberta Posts:8,581 Points:2,505,950 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:07:01 AM Ignore Buffalo Joe Report Abuse Move to China.
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,195 Points:1,223,850 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:06:27 AM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse GE & Obama don't know which way to go.
carman11 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:3,325 Points:689,775 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:05:58 AM Ignore carman11 Report Abuse Good idea...
judgemobile Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,560 Points:2,443,185 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:05:57 AM Ignore judgemobile Report Abuse did somebody say SOLYNDRA.....again ?
1cheapgasin Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,549 Points:1,207,790 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:04:59 AM Ignore 1cheapgasin Report Abuse Figures.
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,682 Points:536,095 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:04:37 AM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse They must believe that Obama is toast!
Rooster922 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:3,778 Points:654,120 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:03:15 AM Ignore Rooster922 Report Abuse What some mistake?
bababooey2 Champion Author Hartford Posts:6,342 Points:1,300,890 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:02:25 AM Ignore bababooey2 Report Abuse Oops.........
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,459 Points:1,709,660 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:02:21 AM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse Have to harness this energy
n3tbc Veteran Author Wilmington Posts:355 Points:332,825 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 12:00:54 AM Ignore n3tbc Report Abuse Ok
CPGas1815 Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,027 Points:1,099,605 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:58:51 PM Ignore CPGas1815 Report Abuse GE got it wrong again!
jessek Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,657 Points:1,280,490 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:57:03 PM Ignore jessek Report Abuse Back to the drawing board prior to filing for bankruptcy.
mrbee Champion Author Little Rock Posts:3,744 Points:2,464,030 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:56:52 PM Ignore mrbee Report Abuse More problems with solar
whaboush Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,233 Points:729,160 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:54:16 PM Ignore whaboush Report Abuse Make it more affordable!!
LCSTEELERBOB Champion Author Gary Posts:2,961 Points:720,030 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:53:53 PM Ignore LCSTEELERBOB Report Abuse WHAT ABOUT CHINA
WBBNC Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:499 Points:488,640 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:53:19 PM Ignore WBBNC Report Abuse Doesn't it make a sense to build NOW when the module prices are 50% cheaper?
canfranchiser Veteran Author Riverside Posts:417 Points:393,940 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:52:28 PM Ignore canfranchiser Report Abuse makes sense
JimVP All-Star Author Chicago Posts:632 Points:153,010 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:50:40 PM Ignore JimVP Report Abuse Need cost effective solutioks.
aarrrt Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,261 Points:1,649,620 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:49:36 PM Ignore aarrrt Report Abuse GE has too many business dealings with Communist China. Look it up.
MDTDriver Champion Author California Posts:9,714 Points:2,152,695 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:49:11 PM Ignore MDTDriver Report Abuse At least them may not have take our tax money?
GigHarborHound Champion Author Tacoma Posts:2,522 Points:485,565 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:48:27 PM Ignore GigHarborHound Report Abuse End all subsidies NOW!!
jdc17327 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,555 Points:197,690 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:46:58 PM Ignore jdc17327 Report Abuse okay
Kawibiker Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,165 Points:203,400 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:46:32 PM Ignore Kawibiker Report Abuse k
RUNNINONEMPTYFL Champion Author Florida Posts:1,408 Points:460,700 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:44:57 PM Ignore RUNNINONEMPTYFL Report Abuse Here we go again...
justmedc Veteran Author Michigan Posts:382 Points:174,045 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:43:59 PM Ignore justmedc Report Abuse GE will still have money, it's the little guys (the ones getting laid off)who will suffer
FlyNFool Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,229 Points:1,683,025 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:43:58 PM Ignore FlyNFool Report Abuse Another Solyndra?
GLM4205 Champion Author Toledo Posts:4,042 Points:798,120 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:42:16 PM Ignore GLM4205 Report Abuse Yet another 400 Billion Gov. loan goes bust. Not enough profit in it for GE.
satrn38mpg Champion Author Raleigh Posts:5,057 Points:1,051,090 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:42:14 PM Ignore satrn38mpg Report Abuse more old news >>
Jeeputtputt Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,002 Points:677,465 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:40:38 PM Ignore Jeeputtputt Report Abuse more wasted money, any tax money used? !!!lol
MacDad614 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,025 Points:1,174,395 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:38:52 PM Ignore MacDad614 Report Abuse Solar cell technology has been progressing such that they can be manufactured much cheaper than a couple of years ago, so any company wishing to be in this business has to adapt to the newer technology. One thing : Will the solar panels produced with the higher efficiency cells be reliable? What good will it do to double the efficiency or cut in half the production costs if the consumer has to replace the panels twice as often as in the past.
my2002m Champion Author Tulsa Posts:6,064 Points:1,667,600 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:38:28 PM Ignore my2002m Report Abuse Prices still need to drop further to be cost effective to install on homes.
drz614 Champion Author Harrisburg Posts:2,289 Points:595,670 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:36:20 PM Ignore drz614 Report Abuse u want to reduce oil consumption and co2, keep this plant open, mass produce panels, even if at a short term loss, and the NE will see a positive reduction in consumption. It will produce jobs in both manufacturing and construction sectors. Offer installation at bargain prices. if this admin and washington is really serious, they would jump on this. I do not really expect this 2 happen. We have lost billions as companys default on government loans.
gilfarm Champion Author Alabama Posts:6,781 Points:1,945,915 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:36:02 PM Ignore gilfarm Report Abuse Good news I think.
alaskareed Champion Author Alaska Posts:1,575 Points:699,030 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:33:21 PM Ignore alaskareed Report Abuse how much money has GE got?
WIPACKERFAN Champion Author Chicago Posts:8,794 Points:1,841,500 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 4, 2012 11:33:15 PM Ignore WIPACKERFAN Report Abuse OK