A few weeks after announcing “significant” layoffs, Suniva, a Georgia-based manufacturer of solar cells and modules, has filed for chapter 11 protection, Solar Industry reported yesterday. Suniva revealed the layoffs at both of its U.S. plants in late March but provided few details; however, WARN Act disclosure documents showed that the company cut 131 jobs at its Norcross, Ga., facility and 59 jobs at its Saginaw, Mich., location. While some local reports suggested the Saginaw plant had been completely shut down, the WARN Act document said that the plant “will remain open with a reduced staff,” though the filing did not specify whether the plant would continue production or operations. In its brief company announcement, Suniva blamed global module oversupply conditions and charged, “The reductions come as U.S. solar manufacturers face attack from the continued growth of global manufacturing overcapacity, particularly in Asia, and the ongoing influx of foreign imports, which continue to drive down domestic prices.”
