According to the Toledo Blade, First Solar (Tempe, Arizona), announced it is reducing its workforce by 30%, closing two plants in Germany with the loss of 1200 jobs, and cutting four of 20 manufacturing lines in Malaysia (550 jobs). Although no plants in the US are slated for closing, the company is reducing its workforce here too, laying off 20 administrative staff in its Toledo-area facility. The article said the closures were triggered by the elimination of subsidies for the solar-panel industry. Mark Widmar, CFO for First Solar is quoted as saying, "In recent months, we have seen this trend continue and even intensify as EU policy makers have proposed and implemented significant reductions in solar subsidies." He says that business in Europe "is not viable without significant subsidies."
