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Thursday, July 27, 2017

Texas energy company to lay off 108 employees in Maryland


Direct Energy Solar will lay off 108 employees and close its Columbia office in September, the company notified the state on Tuesday.

The Howard County solar energy company used to be known as Astrum Solar. Houston-based Direct Energy acquired Astrum for $54 million in 2014 and rebranded the firm as Direct Energy Solar in 2015. That same year, the firm moved its headquarters from Annapolis Junction to Columbia.

Direct Energy Solar said in 2015 it had 145 employees in Columbia. In the filing on Tuesday, the company reported to state officials that the layoffs were part of a "plant closure," the term used in the state's WARN notification log.

The layoffs are part of a shift in the business model, Direct Energy Solar said in a statement. The firm decided to move away from doing residential installations and will instead focus on developing community solar projects and energy storage systems. Direct Energy also said the change will it allow it to concentrate more on growing its commercial business.


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12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yea so now let's push a ridiculous wind farm agenda

Anonymous said...

Is 'laid off' the soft version of 'fired'?

Anonymous said...

oh but unemployment is down, eh?

Anonymous said...

Elon Musk putting them out of business with the new roof tiles that have solar capability and cost the same as a metal or tile roof plus lifetime warranty and 30% tax credit.

Anonymous said...

Anyone heard of ViVint? Promoting residential service (solar panels)at no cost for installation or maintenance. Supposedly subsidized by the state. They own the system but initial contract is for 20 years and homeowner pays them instead of the utility. Too good to be true?

Anonymous said...

1:24 Winning 🤣🤣

Anonymous said...

To 1:43 Poster -

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you - as Solar City - (Elon Musk's subsidary) - is phasing out of the residential rooftop installs.

Anonymous said...

Tesla Is Halting Door-to-Door Sales for SolarCity Amid Slowdown. Their salesman informed me and that's why you don't see them at Home Depot anymore. They be gone to before to long.

Anonymous said...

Elon must is a con man that has made lots of money using government grants.

His cars suck and so does the rest of his stupid Utopian ideas.

Tesla cars are not ever going to replace the good old gasoline thumpers.

Anonymous said...

Says the man living in the armpit of MD with a negative net worth and maybe a HS degree or GED. One EU country has already banned fossil fuel vehicles by 2040 or 2042. It will happen here too.

Steve said...

7:13, What country? Can we deal in FACTS? Solar City has been in the free install/ 20 year market described by2:00 pm about Vivint. So, If Elon is junking that market, is Vivint far behind? Your 20 year "contract" with them will be worth how much in 20 years, or 10? Or 3, for that matter...

Elon is just chasing the next new government handout in giant public utility solar farms paying him millions while charging us rate payers at out coal based electric meters.

It won't be many more years until they are all built and the maintenance will be needed when Elon will be sucking the next government teat and abandoning all liability for the solar farms like he's doing with private solar now.

Or, are you Stupid?

Anonymous said...

That's what they said in 1950 also. Not happening and will NEVER happen in this great country thanks to PRES TRUMP AKA THE DON. GO TRUMP.