1st Solar Breeder Plant Now Owned By BP Faces Layoffs

British energy company BP PLC has announced that its American subsidiary BP Solar is laying off 140 employees at its Frederick plant in November. The company informed workers of the decision Tuesday.The layoffs amount to a 23 percent cutback in the factory's 600-member work force. The company announced in February that increased global competition had forced it to cancel expansion plans for the plant, which makes solar energy cells. It makes electricity from the photovoltaic panels on its roof, thus making it a breeder plant. The plant was originally owned by Solarex. (BaltimoreSun.com, 3/31/09, AP)