Michigan

In the latest news for the troubled cell and module maker, former employees have filed a class-action suit alleging the company violated provisions of the federal WARN Act by laying off employees in Michigan and Georgia without notice.

The state of Georgia says 131 workers were let go yesterday, and local officials in Michigan have confirmed that Suniva’s module plant in Saginaw Township is now closed.

The national solar association is setting up a committee to focus on solar expansion in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin in a move designed to refocus the association on state-level policy battles, which are where most observers believe the future of solar will now be decided.

After marathon negotiations lasting more than 20 hours, the state’s legislature raised the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and sets a deadline to create a “grid” charge for distributed-generation customers — but current customers are exempt.

As the final installment of videos from the SPI 2016 trade show, pv magazine LIVE brings you interviews with four CEOs from across the solar industry.

A revision request has now been received by the appropriate court in Michigan. SolarWorld has meanwhile filled further protective letters against Hemlock to various courts in Germany, as a precaution to prevent possible enforcement of any penalty in Germany. SolarWorld CEO Frank Asbeck is confident that the U.S. silicon manufacturer will not receive recognition of any judgements in German courts.

The German PV group says it is optimistic that Hemlock will not succeed in actually enforcing any claims against it in Germany, arguing that the disputed silicon supply contract at the center of the legal dispute violates EU antitrust law.