The thin film plant was supposed to be the biggest of its kind in the US. GE declared the suspension due to tumbling panel prices and a desire to boost the modules’ efficiency and conduct a redesign of the plant.
So, a piece of good news, not-so-good news (at least in the short-term). 350 fewer workers employed at this plant in the original time frame. Higher efficiency panels could eventually be constructed at the redesigned plant. Panel prices are falling rapidly – which is itself a good news, not-so-good news kind of story.
Interestingly, enough panels to power ~80,000 US homes were to be constructed annually at the plant. That’s still a pretty low number, although each panel that is produced is that much less GHG emissions down the road.
