Well, they’re going, just, going to China
Hundreds of employees of a solar panel factory in Massachusetts are looking for new jobs after the company announced that it’s moving the plant to China.
Three years ago, Massachusetts wooed Evergreen Solar to locate in a former Army base in Devens that had been converted into an office park, hoping it would help boost the state’s reputation as a hub for green industry. Now, many are second-guessing if and how government should be in the business of helping private business.
On paper, it was a match made in heaven. Evergreen moved in and began to reap millions of dollars in fringe benefits, from tax breaks to free rent and cash grants. Evergreen grew from 100 to 800 employees. This month, the state woke up to what was basically a note on the kitchen table saying Evergreen was leaving.
But, wait, Liberal World is in play
While many have directed their anger at Massachusetts for giving too generously to Evergreen, Burroughs says the problem may be that the manufacturer didn’t get enough assistance at the federal level.
“I like the idea of the state supporting an industry such as this,” he says. “But maybe there needs to be more federal support to help a company be successful.”
Got that? Without federal support, business cannot succeed. And, yes, there are more quotes along those lines. Sigh.
Fortunately, Joe Biden has some words of support for the unemployed: “just hang in there.”
