美国政府有关的研究机构和很多投资者都对这一技术下了赌注，但由于来自中国的竞争，Evergreen solar的硅片和组件并没有取得预料中的成本和质量的综合优势，公司近两年来一直亏本运行。尽管已有小批量的产能在去年转移到中国的武汉工厂或由中国的加工伙伴生产，但公司经营状况还没有得到更本改善。
Evergreen CEO Michael El-Hillow 在一份声明中指出，从制造业角度来看，在美国维持生产是不利的，而这种状况还会持续。预计这次关厂裁员行动有可能会引发美国国内新一轮呼声，要求政府立法来对抗来自中国的竞争，同时这一事件对美国希望在太阳能领域重振制造业的努力和呼声也打了一个问号。预计后续的事态发展会进一步发酵。
UPDATE 2-Evergreen Solar closing Mass. plant, cutting 800 jobs
Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:58pm GMT
* Closing of Devens, Mass. plant will affect 800 jobs
* Company to record non-cash charges of $340 mln
* CEO says U.S. at manufacturing disadvantage vs. China (Adds job cuts to first paragraph, stock movement, background)
LOS ANGELES, Jan 11 (Reuters) - U.S. solar company Evergreen Solar Inc (ESLRD.O: Quote) said it would close its Devens, Massachusetts factory and cut 800 jobs to preserve cash as its products face stiff competition from cheaper Chinese rivals.
Evergreen shares fell more than 3 percent in extended trade following the announcement.
The facility, which began producing solar panels in 2008, will shut down by the end of the first quarter, Marlboro, Massachusetts-based Evergreen said.
Evergreen has struggled to compete with lower-cost Chinese panel makers even though its production costs at the Devens plant are lower than those of most Western manufacturers.
Last month, the company announced a major debt restructuring plan aimed at guaranteeing its survival.
On Tuesday, however, Evergreen Chief Executive Michael El-Hillow said increases in solar panel production in low-cost regions such as China combined with reductions in government subsidies in key European markets would pressure prices throughout this year. Evergreen's average selling prices dropped 10 percent in December.
"The United States will continue to be at a disadvantage from a manufacturing standpoint," El-Hillow said in a statement.
Evergreen will record non-cash charges in the fourth and first quarters of $340 million to write off the building and its equipment. It is also reviewing $150 million of prepayments associated with silicon contracts to determine whether additional charges are required.
Evergreen began shipping solar panels from the Devens facility 2008 and at the time planned an aggressive expansion of the plant. The company had received generous incentives from the state of Massachusetts to open the facility.
The global financial crisis and recession, however, put the brakes on expansion plans for Devens as solar panel prices dropped and financing for solar projects dried up.
Instead, Evergreen pursued a strategy to outsource solar work to China. It moved panel assembly from Devens to China but continued to make wafers and cells in Massachusetts.
Evergreen's string ribbon silicon wafers use half the polysilicon of traditional products, but are still sold at a premium to peers.
Evergreen shares fell to $3.05 in after-hours trade after closing at $3.15 on the Nasdaq. (Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Carol Bishopric and Steve Orlofsky)
